XN000022-1974-04-19 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1974.

FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN MID-LEVELS BUS SERVICE

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BUS PASSENGERS ARE GETTING A BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENT SERVICE SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MID-LEVELS TRAFFIC SCHEME LAST TUESDAY, AND THIS MEANS THAT THE BASIC OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME ARE BEING MET.

PROVISIONAL ANALYSIS OF SURVEYS CARRIED OUT BY THE TRANSPURT DEPARTMENT REVEAL THAT BUS FREQUENCIES ON ALL ROUTES USING THE BUS PRIORITY LANE HAVE IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY.

THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR. PETER LEEDS, SAID TODAY: +THE BUSES ARE NO LONGER BEING HELD UP BY CONSTANT TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THIS PART OF THE MID-LEVELS WITH THE RESULT THAT WAITING TIME FOR BUS PASSENGERS HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED.+

+IN SOME CASES IT HAS MEANT THAT THE BUSES ARE ACTUALLY RUNNING TO SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SOME YEARS.+

MR. LEEDS POINTED OUT THAT THE ENTIRE SCHEME WAS AIMED AT IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES AND THIS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED. BUT THE INITIAL DIFFICULTIES WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED BY OTHER ROAD USERS HAS BEEN AGGRAVATED BY DRIVERS FAILING TO SELECT THEIR CORRECT LANE ON COTTON TREE DRIVE.

+WE ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE MOTORISTS TO LEAVE THEIR CARS AT HOME AND TO SWITCH TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT HENCE THE BUS PRIORITY SCHEME.+

FROM NEXT MONDAY CAPRIL 22), THE BUS SERVICES WILL BE FURTHER IMPROVED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW ROUTE 23B FROM NORTH POINT TO PARK ROAD. THE SERVICE WILL OPERATE ON A 10-MINUTE FREQUENCY AND IS BEING INTRODUCED ON MONDAY TO COINCIDE WITH THE REOPENING OF SCHOOLS AFTER THE EASTER HOLIDAYS.

IT WILL GIVE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE CAINE ROAD-BONHAM ROAD AREA A DIRECT LINK WITH NORTH POINT A SERVICE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE THE SCHEME CAME INTO OPERATION.

MR. LEEDS' STATEMENT WAS ENDORSED BY THE TRAFFIC MANAGER OF THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY, MR. LYNDON REES, WHO SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN A +BIG IMPROVEMENT+ IN BUS FREQUENCIES.

AS FAR AS ROUTE 13 TO KOTEWALL ROAD IS CONCERNED, MR. REES SAID THAT PEOPLE WERE NOW ADJUSTING TO THE NEW SERVICE.

+ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE FEATURES IS THAT WIVES ARE DRIVING THEIR HUSBANDS TO THE TERMINUS CAT THE JUNCTION OF KOTEWALL ROAD AND CONDUIT ROZD) AND THEN MEETING THE BUS AGAIN IN THE EVENING. THIS IS A MOST WELCOME TREND AS IT IS KEEPING THE CARS AWAY FROM THE CONGESTED CENTRAL DISTRICT, + HE ADDED.

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