The new on-street bus stops on CR Swart Drive are there exclusively for the use of the City of Ekurhuleni’s Harambee Bus Service.
This service is being extended to run to OR Tambo International Airport via CR Swart Drive.
On-street, or in-lane bus stops as they are also known, are legal and provision for these type of stops is available in manuals such as the South African Road Traffic Signs Manual (SARTSM), said Themba Gadebe, spokesperson for the metro.
However, one resident who wrote to Kempton Express does not agree.
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• Bus stops in middle of CR Swart Drive are dangerous
• Harambee extends routes to OR Tambo International Airport
Adriaan wrote: “Who had this bright idea to paint bus stop lines in the middle of the street on CR Swart Drive? Has the person or people who made this decision really considered what would happen if a bus just stops in the middle of the street because of these bus stop lines, which I would consider to be totally illegal and not to standard traffic rules?
“There could be serious accidents and injuries or even fatalities. Why does the council allow this without first correcting the infrastructure by constructing bus stop areas like those the taxis are supposed to use, which by the way most of them don’t?
“Ever thought how this would affect traffic on CR Swart Drive? Now even the bus services will stop where they want just like the taxis in Kempton. This is ridiculous.”
Gadebe said CR Swart Drive is an urban arterial with high transit movement and the posted speed limit is 70km/h.
“Road safety for both motorists and pedestrians was considered, thus the bus stops have been placed close to intersections. The bus road markings are there not only to delineate the bus stopping area but also to warn motorists that buses are allowed to stop there,” added Gadebe.
The bus stops will be used exclusively by the City’s Harambee Bus Service and the bus drivers have been trained to give warning to motorists when they stop at this on-street/in-lane stops.
Gadebe said this was just an interim arrangement, as CR Swart Drive would be upgraded in the next two years.
During these upgrades, a median station will be introduced with the provision of a public transport lay-by at some intersections.
“A decision was taken to utilise the on-street/in-lane bus stops in the interim until the upgrades are completed,” he added.
