'Gridlock' caused by changes
A city centre shake-up which has seen changes to parking, coach drop-offs and taxi ranks has divided opinion in Bath.
The temporary experiment to relocate bus and coach stops from Orange Grove to Terrace Walk started last month.
While some traders in Terrace Walk have welcomed the changes as they benefit their businesses, coach and bus drivers have said the new regime causes gridlock at busy periods.
Bath Bus Company managing director Martin Curtis said the plans had caused coaches to become gridlocked at the weekend, as there had not been enough room for them all.
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He said: "On Saturday there were too many coaches in Terrace Walk and it was absolutely gridlocked.
"No one could move in or out and my drivers and staff had to help and advise other coach drivers.
"Our main concern is for the safety of our passengers, who were being forced to disembark on to the road.
"There is insufficient space for the coaches."
There have also been claims of a resurgence of tension between traders at nearby Orange Grove and taxi drivers. B&NES is trying to fix a meeting between all parties to discuss the issue.
Comments
by rogerh3
Thursday, July 05 2012, 8:37PM
“One problem is that the Traffic Commissioner's agreement that ended the Great Bath Tour Bus War awarded the tour buses three pitches - in the High Street, on Grand Parade and at Bog Island. And there's very little anyone can do to shift them.”
by GoodReader
Thursday, July 05 2012, 4:22PM
“Further to Dave_Weston's comment, Mr. Curtis uses the bus stand ( designed so that continental coaches can off load onto the pavement) as a matter of course even when the bus stops are clear, his passengers are usually joining and leaving the bus in the centre of the road. He also adds to the gridlock by having his buses drive down towards the station at around 5 - 6 mph, which is contrary to the PCV licence requirement not to impede other road users.”
by Dave_Weston
Thursday, July 05 2012, 3:03PM
“Presumably the "gridlock" in quotes in the title comes from Mr Curtis' comments. Perhaps if Mr Curtis didn't run his buses so that they wait at the stop until the next one arrives, they might create a bit of space! I don't suppose he'd object too much if he got Bog Island back more or less to himself rather than having to share it with other coaches etc - vested interest perhaps!”
by rogerh3
Thursday, July 05 2012, 2:14PM
“Funnily enough it was regularly 'gridlocked' the week before the changes as well. Perhaps there's a need for Oxford-style coach permits: http://tinyurl.com/7zf6lsv”
by DaveF_Walcot
Thursday, July 05 2012, 1:40PM
“I don't think people know what 'grid-lock' means.”
by t1mmyb
Thursday, July 05 2012, 1:27PM
“Or you could write an impartial headline...”