From a sign to a Guided Bus Way, from bus lanes to Trolley Buses, what new infrastructure would you install and what could you run through it.

I would like to install a bus lane for southbound traffic on the A188 at Quorum Business Park so that buses don't get stuck in traffic.

A major mistake, in my opinion, that was made during that long period of time when the High Level Bridge was being refurbished was reducing the two-way traffic stream to one-way only. It was good that usage was restricted to buses, taxis and emergency vehicles but it would have been even more useful if it had remained two way. Perhaps one of the walkways could have been removed to provide passing places given more room for buses to maneuver. It would have allowed services from the South of the Tyne faster access into Newcastle City Centre.

While we're on the subject of the High Level Bridge and improved access. I would like to see West Street in Gateshead to be reopened for buses for this reason. You could extend this access on the Newcastle side too by converting both St Nicholas Street and the Bigg Market into bus-only sections (two-way) although this would probably prove to be more problematic with the existing traffic flows.

A dedicated bus lane to accomodate services between Houghton and Fencehouses (ah sh!t, don't tell eezypeazy I mentioned it again

Will come up with a serious suggestion later

(14 Jul 2013, 9:43 pm)AdamY wrote A major mistake, in my opinion, that was made during that long period of time when the High Level Bridge was being refurbished was reducing the two-way traffic stream to one-way only. It was good that usage was restricted to buses, taxis and emergency vehicles but it would have been even more useful if it had remained two way. Perhaps one of the walkways could have been removed to provide passing places given more room for buses to maneuver. It would have allowed services from the South of the Tyne faster access into Newcastle City Centre.

While we're on the subject of the High Level Bridge and improved access. I would like to see West Street in Gateshead to be reopened for buses for this reason. You could extend this access on the Newcastle side too by converting both St Nicholas Street and the Bigg Market into bus-only sections (two-way) although this would probably prove to be more problematic with the existing traffic flows.

I believe, the main reason that it's only one-way over High Level Bridge is due to the cracks found in the girders during the restoration and the addition of the crash barriers.

(15 Jul 2013, 3:39 am)ADLEnviro wrote No something I would like to install but something I would have great pleasure in uninstalling.

The stupid next bus departure board that Nexus spent a few thousand quid on in the middle of The Bridges shopping centre in Sunderland. I look up see the next service I want is due in three minutes then have to decide to leg it to Fawcett Street or the Interchange and miss it by 4 minutes.

On a similar note, there are smaller departure boards located at bus stops and in Tesco at Rowlands Gill. A total waste of money. They only show the departure times of the 45/46, not the 47 or R3/R4/R5/R6, and real-time information is very rarely given.

Quite a few of the ones on the 'Quaylink' routes just show "Please Use Timetable" most of the time!

Not quite bus, but I'd love to see tram running between Chester le Street and Newcastle via Durham Road/Low Fell. The same between Shiney Row and Sunderland via Chester Road.

Re - High Level Bridge.

The latest report on the bridge has stated it will be unable to cope with motorised traffic from 2025, at the latest. Network Rail will obviously give preference to trains over buses which means GNE will have to return to the Tyne Bridge or use Redheugh/Askew or alternatively, Swing Bridge

It's buried within here
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...fic_regula

(15 Jul 2013, 7:50 pm)gtomlinson wrote Re - High Level Bridge.

The latest report on the bridge has stated it will be unable to cope with motorised traffic from 2025, at the latest. Network Rail will obviously give preference to trains over buses which means GNE will have to return to the Tyne Bridge or use Redheugh/Askew or alternatively, Swing Bridge

It's buried within here
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...fic_regula

I know it is listed, but it would have been better to knock it down, then build an replica a few feet wider so two way traffic could still use it.

Probably would have been cheaper and quicker than what they done.

(15 Jul 2013, 10:01 am)BJ10VUS wrote Quite a few of the ones on the 'Quaylink' routes just show "Please Use Timetable" most of the time!

The departure boards used at Seaham Byron Place are odd like that too. Stands A & E shows 'Please Use Timetable', Stand B is total blank, Stand C show information for 202/265 but totally forgets the 238 exists & Stand D shows information for the 60 but again forgets about the X7 all together. They also have these at Woods Terrace, Murton and again im fairly sure most of the time they read 'Please use Timetable'. Although personally I'm fan of these boards there's no point they been there if there not going to be used.

(16 Jul 2013, 8:30 am)CatsFast101 wrote

(15 Jul 2013, 10:01 am)BJ10VUS wrote Quite a few of the ones on the 'Quaylink' routes just show "Please Use Timetable" most of the time!

Although personally I'm fan of these boards there's no point they been there if there not going to be used.

Yeah, I guess that's pretty much my view. The boards in the Gill never show "Please Use Timetable", just generic information - no different from the timetable. Initially, the aim was to provide passengers with real-time information regarding major delays. Occasionally, this has happened, but usually if the bus isn't at the stop at its scheduled time the display just moves onto the next timetabled service. What started out as probably a good idea has now become an irrelevance to regular passengers, and a confusion to visitors.

Agree about routing buses through Gateshead the 'old' way on their way into Newcastle, instead of everything bar the X34 going through the Interchange.

Slightly more radical: I'd introduce congestion charging for Newcastle City Centre (obviously the revenue raised would be ringfenced to improve public transport). Slightly more radical still (no, I haven't finally lost my marbles...) I'd be tempted to rip up the Metro and have guided buses. Imagine - a bus zipping under the streets of Newcastle avoiding congestion, and then once it hits the suburbs rejoins the normal roads.

And yes, I am sober!

(16 Jul 2013, 12:32 pm)Chris wrote Agree about routing buses through Gateshead the 'old' way on their way into Newcastle, instead of everything bar the X34 going through the Interchange.

Slightly more radical: I'd introduce congestion charging for Newcastle City Centre (obviously the revenue raised would be ringfenced to improve public transport). Slightly more radical still (no, I haven't finally lost my marbles...) I'd be tempted to rip up the Metro and have guided buses. Imagine - a bus zipping under the streets of Newcastle avoiding congestion, and then once it hits the suburbs rejoins the normal roads.

And yes, I am sober!

If some of the more ambitious plans for road-building were implemented by Newcastle's city planners in the 1960s and 70s, we would have ended with an underground east-to-west motorway carrying vehicles underneath the streets of the city. So, a bus zipping under the streets of Newcastle, rejoing current roads in the suburbs isn't as harebrained as you might think. Whether it would alleviate congestion on the other hand, above level - maybe; underground - probably not.

For those wanting to read more about Newcastle's unbuilt motorway network, the Pathetic Motorway's website has a page dedicated it: http://www.pathetic.org.uk/features/tyneside/ - It's an interesting read!!

Hadn't seen that website before, but I have seen the plans for the motorways and extra bridges Mr Smith would have brought to Newcastle if his plans had came to fruition.

(16 Jul 2013, 1:05 pm)Andreos1 wrote Hadn't seen that website before, but I have seen the plans for the motorways and extra bridges Mr Smith would have brought to Newcastle if his plans had came to fruition.

Personally, I like T. Dan Smith. Corruption aside, I think that he genuinely wanted to make Newcastle into a better place for people to live, study and work.

I had to a local history project on him prior to pursuing my undergraduate degree at Northumbria University.

Bet there was some fascinating stuff about him.

You could be right, despite the greed and bribes - he wanted to create that vision as well as improving and modernising the City. Whether it would have been an improvement or we would have lost some of the historic soul, is another thing and probably open to debate.

Love reading stuff about local history going back to the pre-war era and the 60's/70's probably saw more change than any other.

(16 Jul 2013, 1:21 pm)AdamY wrote Personally, I like T. Dan Smith. Corruption aside, I think that he genuinely wanted to make Newcastle into a better place for people to live, study and work.

I had to a local history project on him prior to pursuing my undergraduate degree at Northumbria University.

You didn't work with Keith Shaw on that did you? He's a mine of information on that subject

(16 Jul 2013, 2:00 pm)gtomlinson wrote

(16 Jul 2013, 1:21 pm)AdamY wrote Personally, I like T. Dan Smith. Corruption aside, I think that he genuinely wanted to make Newcastle into a better place for people to live, study and work.

I had to a local history project on him prior to pursuing my undergraduate degree at Northumbria University.

You didn't work with Keith Shaw on that did you? He's a mine of information on that subject

No, unfortunately not. I was doing an HEFC at the time so I wasn't really aware of his work. To do the project, the main sources I used were Amber Films' A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Utopia; Smith's own 1971 autobiography; Fitzgerald and Taylor's Web of Corruption, and a whole host of material located in the Local History Section of Newcastle Central Library (which was temporarily relocated at the Civic Centre as the library was undergoing refurbishment at the time).

When I went to Northumbria in 2008, I learned about the work of Shaw and others. Every year or so, there is a seminar on Smith. It is usually hosted by Keith Shaw, or his (then) phD student, John Griffiths, both of whom are experts on the man. I have also been to lecture hosted by Chris Forte-Wood (a contemporary of Smith and author of the book T. Dan Smith - Voice of the North) held at the Lit and Phil.

One thing that could perhaps be looked at on the A183 is to create bus lanes in both directions on the broadway. See here. The roundabout in the middle for Springwell and Holborn road is an absolute nightmare on a morning and evening, and at least it would give buses some priority rather than being stuck in traffic tailing right back towards the hospital.

Attached: the proposed changes on A183, but eventually got shelved.

Durham Road in the Thorney Close area, still has the old section deadicated to the trams by the side of the road.
Wonder why it wasn't utilised when the bus lanes were added?

(17 Jul 2013, 8:01 am)Andreos1 wrote Durham Road in the Thorney Close area, still has the old section deadicated to the trams by the side of the road.
Wonder why it wasn't utilised when the bus lanes were added?

Don't know what the side road area was used for, but the trams used the section between east and west bound traffic where the grass area is in the middle of the road:

From Sunderland public libraries:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33844814@N0...wiY-e9xvWo

Yeah, that's the section I mean, by the side of the road.
Apparently they used the central reservation for a certain section and the section on the side too.

(17 Jul 2013, 7:41 am)cbma06 wrote Attached: the proposed changes on A183, but eventually got shelved.

So what were the reason for binning it?

Money (I expect)?

(17 Jul 2013, 9:38 am)AdamY wrote

(17 Jul 2013, 7:41 am)cbma06 wrote Attached: the proposed changes on A183, but eventually got shelved.

So what were the reason for binning it?

Money (I expect)?

I think the proposals was just before the last election under labour, until conservatives got into government and told the council to cut back on plans, under labour a lot of plans were given the green light, but when conservatives got in there abolished a lot of funding for small and big projects

(17 Jul 2013, 11:55 am)cbma06 wrote

(17 Jul 2013, 9:38 am)AdamY wrote

(17 Jul 2013, 7:41 am)cbma06 wrote Attached: the proposed changes on A183, but eventually got shelved.

So what were the reason for binning it?

Money (I expect)?

I think the proposals was just before the last election under labour, until conservatives got into government and told the council to cut back on plans, under labour a lot of plans were given the green light, but when conservatives got in there abolished a lot of funding for small and big projects

12m does seem rather expensive for a project of that size.

(17 Jul 2013, 1:59 pm)aureolin wrote

(17 Jul 2013, 11:55 am)cbma06 wrote

(17 Jul 2013, 9:38 am)AdamY wrote

(17 Jul 2013, 7:41 am)cbma06 wrote Attached: the proposed changes on A183, but eventually got shelved.

So what were the reason for binning it?

Money (I expect)?

I think the proposals was just before the last election under labour, until conservatives got into government and told the council to cut back on plans, under labour a lot of plans were given the green light, but when conservatives got in there abolished a lot of funding for small and big projects

12m does seem rather expensive for a project of that size.

I think it was an alternative to the proposed Sunderland congestion charge that the council thinking of bringing in before 2021, as there wanted public transport more accessed and quicker route to the city centre as Chester Road is like a bottle neck and getting worse year after year.

(17 Jul 2013, 2:31 pm)cbma06 wrote I think it was an alternative to the proposed Sunderland congestion charge that the council thinking of bringing in before 2021, as there wanted public transport more accessed and quicker route to the city centre as Chester Road is like a bottle neck and getting worse year after year.

They should of went through with it, I sat on the 2C for 20 Minutes stuck in Traffic coming out of Sunderland on Friday Evening at around 15:45pm coming down to that Roundabout. Due those 3 Lollipop People taking an age in getting school kids across the Road. I would recommend putting in a Zebra Crossing at the Bottom of that Roundabout and also widening the Road from the Top of the Bank where Bus Stop is and insert a Bus Lane.

Whilst I was in Newcastle Last Friday Morning, I decided to sit down on one of the Benches on the Green next to the Eldon Square before going into one of the offices on the Green for an Interview. And thought to myself about having a New Bus Station to Replace the Dreadfully Designed Current Eldon Square Bus Station.

So here is my Idea

[attachment=5059] - For Attachment looks at the Bus Station Designs Thread

Basically what happen is Office Block which is Joint to Greggs and the Newsagents on the Green would be Demolished, Then the bit across the road from the Green where Poundland is situated would also be Demolished upto where Walkway for Sports Direct is, to make the Area Bigger.

As a Result the Entrance just Inside Eldon Square for Monument Metro would be sealed off, Meaning Metro Passengers would have to use the Entrances Next to Fenicks and Waterstones opposite the Monument, These Entrances are Marked in Blue on the Map.

Also the Following Businesses from I can remember off top of my head would have to Relocate, The Current Eldon Square Bus Station could be a Possibillity for an Area for those Shops to move to which include:

Pizza Hut Express
American Candy Shop
New Look
Vision Express
Poundland
Gadget Store
Greggs
Newsagents
Shake a Holic

As for the Office Block situated on the Green I thought they could be situated on top of the Shops if they were to move into the Current Bus Station, Much like the Student Accomodation Flats, which are Built on top of the new Tesco in Gateshead.

The New Bus Station would Accommodate the Services which already Serve Eldon Square and Stagecoach Services which Serve The Green along with Megabus Services if there is Room.

(11 Dec 2013, 8:36 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Whilst I was in Newcastle Last Friday Morning, I decided to sit down on one of the Benches on the Green next to the Eldon Square before going into one of the offices on the Green for an Interview. And thought to myself about having a New Bus Station to Replace the Dreadfully Designed Current Eldon Square Bus Station.

So here is my Idea

- For Attachment looks at the Bus Station Designs Thread

Basically what happen is Office Block which is Joint to Greggs and the Newsagents on the Green would be Demolished, Then the bit across the road from the Green where Poundland is situated would also be Demolished upto where Walkway for Sports Direct is, to make the Area Bigger.

As a Result the Entrance just Inside Eldon Square for Monument Metro would be sealed off, Meaning Metro Passengers would have to use the Entrances Next to Fenicks and Waterstones opposite the Monument, These Entrances are Marked in Blue on the Map.

Also the Following Businesses from I can remember off top of my head would have to Relocate, The Current Eldon Square Bus Station could be a Possibillity for an Area for those Shops to move to which include:

Pizza Hut Express
American Candy Shop
New Look
Vision Express
Poundland
Gadget Store
Greggs
Newsagents
Shake a Holic

As for the Office Block situated on the Green I thought they could be situated on top of the Shops if they were to move into the Current Bus Station, Much like the Student Accomodation Flats, which are Built on top of the new Tesco in Gateshead.

The New Bus Station would Accommodate the Services which already Serve Eldon Square and Stagecoach Services which Serve The Green along with Megabus Services if there is Room.

The problem being you can't go around demolishing listed buildings. That tends to upset people.