Today’s pipe dream: bus-only lanes in Chicago.
I read in this morning’s paper that the CTA will install surveillance cameras on city buses to identify and retrain risky drivers. That’s good. Taking the 49 bus down Western is sometimes the equivalent of taking your life in your hands.
Not everyone thinks it’s a good idea. One driver lamented that some behaviors the higher-ups are trying to correct – speeding and lane-swerving – help drivers stay on schedule. However, both of those activities also contributed to nearly 4,000 accidents in Chicago last year, and $19 million in settlement costs.
As long as we’re piloting programs to improve safety and reduce costs, why not try bus-only lanes? Clear out on-street parking for the major thoroughfares during rush hour and allow the buses free reign of the right-hand lane. Drivers wouldn’t need to speed or swerve in and out of traffic, and they’d probably be on schedule.
Bus-only lanes would also prevent the dreaded and infuriating bus-bunching, whereby you’re walking to your bus stop and three buses go flying by, leaving you to wait 30 minutes for the next bus.
Of course it all comes down to money, and I don’t know how the trade-offs stack up. I imagine on-time, reliable bus service would increase ridership, and perhaps the increase would offset revenue that comes from parking meters and/or tickets.
I wonder if Ron Huberman reads my blog…