(19 Nov 2023, 11:47 am)RobinHood wrote In the face of all local authorities in this area doing absolutely sod all in respect of bus priority schemes, unfortunately the operator is left to pick up and pieces and try to make it work, yet again...

Local highways authorities need to play their part, but they never will, as politically it would be suicidal to go against the private motorist.

Expect more of this type of thing to be honest, from all operators.

Regent Centre is a prime example of this, and one which impacts more than just Arriva. 

Due to the pattern of the lights heading to town, it is generally impossible to enter and exit without stopping at the exit as well - even without stopping to pick up/drop off. 

To enter, southbound, the right filter doesn't go green unless a bus is already waiting there. So say a bus misses it by 2 seconds, and arrives as their light should be turning green, they need to wait for the north/south traffic to pass through, then the east/west. Drive in, pick up/drop off, then go and wait at another set of traffic lights. The entire thing can take 3-4 minutes. 

Gosforth High Street is as equally ridiculous, there's absolutely no need for that many sets of traffic lights. The ones at actual junctions, fair enough, but the two in the middle outside of the shopping centre and outside Halifax are literally 10 car lengths apart looking at Google Maps. 

Another example, the stretch of road past the entrance to Newcastle Golf Course. Bus lane starts just further down heading into Newcastle, but the traffic at that roundabout is horrendous heading out in the PM peak. It's a ridiculously wide road, surely there's enough space for a short bus lane leading up to the roundabout.