CIHT is producing a guide on designing for effective and high profile bus operations – and is calling on members to submit examples of best practice based on their own work or experience.

 

The guide aims to include references to current good design, from whole networks to bus stops. Examples of recently built developments designed around bus access will be especially welcome.

 

Design of streets for bus operation will be covered by the guide, along with network and service planning, operational issues, the relationship with spatial planning and integration with other modes. It will specifically address design for bus operation in new developments.

 

Tim Pharoah of the CIHT Urban Design Panel is the lead author of the guide and is supported by a peer review group. It should be noted that this guide will not include issues of ownership, regulation and governance, which will be the subject of a separate CIHT document.

 

“There has not been any new guidance on this subject for a long time,” said Tim. “CIHT published a guidance document in 1999 titled 'Planning for Public Transport in Developments' and there was an earlier document published in 1981 by the Confederation of Passenger Transport called ‘Urban Planning and Design for Road Public Transport’.

 

“The motivation for producing the new guidance came from a lot of new developments such as business parks and industrial estates that have taken place without much regard for the operation of bus services.

 

“We are trying to promote the message that developments should be designed on the basis that a high proportion of people should be able to travel to them using public transport.”

 

Tim added that CIHT is looking for the manual to be “fairly crisp” in tone and says it will be available online. Its audience will include developers, local authority professionals, masterplanners, highway design consultants and bus operators.

 

If you know of examples of best or good practice, or alternatively can provide contact details for those the CIHT should be approaching, please contact matthew.hughes@ciht.org.uk

 

(Photo: Alastair Lloyd)