HAMPSHIRE County Council is to consider adopting a policy that would enable it, as the local transport authority, to take action when unauthorised vehicles are found using bus lanes and, in doing so, causing delays to bus journey times and inconvenience to passengers.

There are various types of bus priority measures in Hampshire which help busestravel with little or no obstruction on their journey.

The introduction of a policy, if agreed, would be in line with the Government’s National Bus Strategy – ‘Bus Back Better’ – which calls on local transport authorities to publish Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) that support quicker and more reliable bus services.

The national strategy states that “robust enforcement of traffic restrictions can bring benefits for buses, through less congestion”.

Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader and Executive Lead Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at the County Council, will consider the recommendations for a Countywide Bus Priority Enforcement Policy at a public decision meeting being held on October 28.

At the meeting he will also consider the proposed Bus Service Improvement Plan which includes a commitment to future plans for the provision of bus priority measures across the county.

It is proposed that the ability to carry out enforcement when bus priority measures are contravened would achieve greater compliance with restrictions leading to improved bus journey times, service reliability, passenger confidence in and satisfaction with bus services, as well as an increase in bus usage.

The report to be considered cites feedback from previous public and stakeholder engagement, in response to two of the County Council’s Local Transport Plan 4 design principles.

This revealed that there is strong support for measures which make bus journeys easier, more reliable, safer and an attractive alternative to the private car.