Sir – With so many passengers and associated buses attempting to depart from St Aldates, should the proposal to remove bus stops from Queen Street occur, then it is inevitable that “double-loading” will occur.
In other words, whilst one bus collects passengers from a St Aldates bus stop, another will be forced to board passengers from the middle of the road.
This will make a mockery of the millions of pounds spent by the bus companies to have easy-access vehicles, allowing those in wheelchairs or with buggies to be able to use the network. Easy-access can only be achieved by buses “docking” properly at the kerb.
Aside from what will become an unpleasant scramble to use the bus system in St Aldates (making, for instance, shoppers go elsewhere the very worse thing for Oxford in the current recession), there will be considerable congestion on the road.
Anyone spending even just a short time on St Aldates will realise the road is a major thoroughfare for the emergency services.
I strongly advise the police and ambulance services take a good look at these proposals, and consider the implications of St Aldates being effectively blocked by buses forced out of Queen Street and thus slowing their capability to reach people in need.
Oxford has a superb bus system, and is something we should be proud off.
These proposals seem to have the potential to damage this system, and also have important safety implications.
Dr Chris Huntingford, Wallingford
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel