Service 11, which runs between Lancaster Bus Station and Marsh, has a long section of route through Abraham Heights and on to Willow Lane without any formal bus stops. In fact, there are no marked bus stops between Coolidge Avenue and Denmark Street in Marsh at all - a distance of over a kilometre. See map: (There is currently no stop at Leighton Drive, the BUG had to put that into Google Maps to get it to follow the bus route between Coolidge Avenue and Denmark Street)
At some stage in the past (and before the BUG's time), the Marsh service was diverted via Abraham Heights and the top end of Willow Lane, but the only stop added was at Coolidge Avenue. Official government guidance suggests a distance of 400m between stops.
When we were approached for advice by local County Councillor Gina Dowding, who herself had been approached by local residents, the BUG naturally assumed that "hail and ride" provisions had been put in place for such a lengthy section of residential road and that therefore buses would stop "anywhere where it is safe to do so". But it appears that this is not the case.
Perhaps there were fewer houses in those days, but whoever decided to route the 11 along Roosevelt Avenue, Leighton Drive and Willow Lane didn't seem to think it mattered if it didn't actually stop to pick up passengers!
But as so often happens, drivers and passengers between them developed a system of "unofficial stops" whereby passengers could board and alight at convenient - and safe - points along this section. Whilst this is fine for the regulars it isn't much good for occasional - or potential - passengers. As well as indicating where one should wait for a bus, bus stop signs also act as an advertisement for the fact that a service exists in the first place - even more so if the county council can be persuaded to add a timetable case.
Armed with this information, County Councillor Dowding and City Councillor Jon Barry have, since January, been asking Stagecoach and the County Council to provide some marked bus stops on the route. It's taken some time for Stagecoach to decide where they would like the stops to be placed but they have now formally asked Lancashire County Council to provide them on Leighton Drive and on Willow Lane, near Hoghton Close. Stagecoach themselves have added a request for a stop on Westbourne Road itself, near the Laurel Bank Care Home, which seems a good idea.
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| New and existing stops (approximate locations) (The Laurel Bank stop would be on Westbourne Road, not as shown) |
So, if anyone feels that a new bus stop needs to be provided on their route - and has good reason for doing so - the Bus Users' Group may be able to help
