News
Correcting flaws, traffic lane system chugs along
Traffic authorities this week changed their initial lane rules after learning through bitter experience that shoving trishaws and motorcycles also onto the bus-priority lanes gridlocked Colombo city.
Active since Monday, the new lane law now stipulates that buses, school vans and staff services travel on the left lane. Trishaws and motorcycles in the other lanes. They are only allowed in the left lane for the purpose of left-turns.
The rules are effective from 6am to 9pm, said Senior Superintendent of Police Indika Hapugoda, Director of Traffic Control and Road Safety. The first plan was conceptually flawed, pointed out transport expert Amal Kumarage, a Senior Professor at the University of Moratuwa.
“The bus priority lane system is necessary and has proven to be successful,” he maintained.
Around 60 percent of the commuter pool must be maintained as public transport to avoid congestion, Prof Kumarage said. But the share of public transport is now below 50 percent. Bus priority lanes will achieve their purpose when the 60 percent commuter threshold is met.
The lane law was changed successively within two-weeks in September. The first trial saw trishaws and motorcycles join buses in the left lane. A loud public outcry ensued. SSP Indika Hapugoda maintained that it was done this way as trishaws and motorcycles were seen to be responsible for much of the traffic in Colombo.