Congestion in St Aldate's should have been tackled sooner

3.55.00pm GMT Fri 30th Oct 2009

Oxford Bus Company vehicle in central Oxford

As warned by the Lib Dems at the time, the moving of the bus stops from Queen Street has caused extra congestion on St Aldate's in central Oxford. Cllr Alan Armitage, who will be putting a motion to the County Council meeting next week, said that cyclists were having a hard time overtaking stationary buses and that pedestrians were having to step into the road to pass long queues of people at bus stops. Pembroke Square is a particular hazardous point.

He is asking the Cabinet to press ahead with the bus companies in forming a Bus Quality Partnership. This allows the bus companies, with the County Council as "honest broker", to plan their services together. Joint timetabling and ticketing will mean that the bus companies can reduce the number of buses running similar routes, and also help to reduce congestion.

"This Partnership should have been operational before the 'Transform Oxford' works ever started," said Alan. "Now it must start work urgently to reduce the number of buses using St Aldate's and make the road safer for all its users."