SINGAPORE: The Mandatory Give Way To Buses Pilot scheme, which requires motorists to give way to buses, will be extended islandwide over two years. From June, the first phase will extend to another 180 bus bays.
Implementing the scheme will cost some S$1 million, mainly because of road resurfacing. A special paint with luminance is needed to mark the roads with the "Mandatory Give Way to Buses Scheme".
There are currently some 2,000 bus bays and shelters in Singapore. But not all bus bays are suitable for the new scheme.
A pilot scheme in three areas - in Bukit Batok East Ave 3, Ang Mo Kio, Toh Tuck Road that started last December - has shown that buses leaving designated bus bays were able to leave faster.
The waiting time to leave these bus bays was reduced by between 5 per cent and 40 per cent.
The scheme was not so effective on one-lane roads like Toh Tuck Road - which saw the waiting time to leave the bus bay reduced by 5 per cent - compared to roads with more than one lane like those on Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 which benefited most - the waiting time for buses to leave the bus lane was reduced by 40 per cent.
Meanwhile buses travelling along Bukit Batok East Ave 3 saw their waiting time to leave the bus bays cut by 20 per cent.
During the pilot scheme, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) gave out 1,552 advisory notes to motorists. No fines were imposed during the three-month trial.
The Mandatory Give Way to Buses scheme will not replace the existing bus lane scheme.
LTA said that bus lanes will be designated to roads with higher bus volumes, while Mandatory Give Way to Buses scheme will be implemented on roads with lower bus volumes.
- CNA
Implementing the scheme will cost some S$1 million, mainly because of road resurfacing. A special paint with luminance is needed to mark the roads with the "Mandatory Give Way to Buses Scheme".
There are currently some 2,000 bus bays and shelters in Singapore. But not all bus bays are suitable for the new scheme.
A pilot scheme in three areas - in Bukit Batok East Ave 3, Ang Mo Kio, Toh Tuck Road that started last December - has shown that buses leaving designated bus bays were able to leave faster.
The waiting time to leave these bus bays was reduced by between 5 per cent and 40 per cent.
The scheme was not so effective on one-lane roads like Toh Tuck Road - which saw the waiting time to leave the bus bay reduced by 5 per cent - compared to roads with more than one lane like those on Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 which benefited most - the waiting time for buses to leave the bus lane was reduced by 40 per cent.
Meanwhile buses travelling along Bukit Batok East Ave 3 saw their waiting time to leave the bus bays cut by 20 per cent.
During the pilot scheme, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) gave out 1,552 advisory notes to motorists. No fines were imposed during the three-month trial.
The Mandatory Give Way to Buses scheme will not replace the existing bus lane scheme.
LTA said that bus lanes will be designated to roads with higher bus volumes, while Mandatory Give Way to Buses scheme will be implemented on roads with lower bus volumes.
- CNA
