Following implementation of the 1995 Moving Forward policy in Edinburgh, an enhanced bus priority scheme, Greenways, was introduced. The phased introduction of these 26km of route aims to improve public transport and reduce car use. The scheme includes priority routes for buses, taxis and cyclists, operating for longer hours, coloured surfacing, parking and loading restrictions policed by a dedicated warden force, new bus shelters and information panels, and side street traffic calming. They are a holistic attempt to improve bus reliability and journey times, unlike conventional bus priority lanes which are a traditional traffic management tool. Awareness of Greenways is widespread in the transport profession and a scientific investigation of their effectiveness should provoke a high level of interest. This Scottish Office commissioned research project seeks to construct an evaluation framework to measure the effects of both Greenways and conventional bus priority. The collective effect of measures, which affect not only bus users but also non-bus users, taxis, pedestrians, cyclists, residents and traders, will be evaluated. Specific traffic effects will also be measured: growth, speed and bus patronage. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the different schemes will be compared and recommendations as to how the conventional and traditional bus priority measures can be made more effective will be possible.
Abstract