M4 bus lane

The M4 is mostly a 3-lane motorway, but between Junctions 2 and 3, it narrows down to 2 lanes and the hard shoulder disappears. As a result, the point where the 3 lanes narrowed to two lanes proved a significant bottleneck. The original intention was to replace the bottleneck with a lane drop at Junction 3, meaning that the road stretch between Junctions 2 and 3 would be narrowed to two lanes. The redundant tarmac was then converted into the bus lane[http://www.cbrd.co.uk/indepth/m4buslane/ CBRD M4 Bus Lane]

The lane, replacing the original offside lane (the lane nearest to the central reservation) of the motorway, was opened as a pilot by the then Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott on 7 June 1999{{cite news |title=M4 Bus Lane Opens |date=1999-06-08 |work=The Independent|location=London}} and was made permanent in 2001. A speed limit of 50 mph was created when the bus lane opened, which was then raised to 60 mph in 2002 when motorcycles were also allowed to use the lane.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

Research into the effect of the lane was undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory in 2000 and 2003. (see below)

On 1 October 2010 it was reported that the transport secretary, Philip Hammond, was likely to announce at the Conservative Party conference that the lane would be suspended for 18 months from 24 December 2010 to be brought back for the 2012 Summer Olympics after which it would be scrapped.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11451350|title=Government to scrap M4 bus lane|publisher=BBC News|date=2010-10-01|accessdate=2010-10-01|quote=The controversial M4 bus lane is due to be scrapped at the end of the year. Under the plans, all motorists will be able to use the {{Convert|3.5|mi}} lane which operates on the London-bound carriageway from near Heathrow}}

During his speech to the Conservative Party conference Philip Hammond explained that removing the bus lane would result in 'shortening average journey times; reducing congestion; restoring a sense of fairness.{{cite web|url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2010/10/Philip_Hammond_Government_announces_plans_for_next_phase_of_high_speed_rail.aspx|title=Philip Hammond: Government announces plans for next phase of high speed rail|publisher=Conservative Party|date=2010-10-04|accessdate=2010-10-07|quote=And that means we can end Labour's indiscriminate war on the motorist as we focus on the real enemies – carbon and congestion. And nothing is more symbolic of that Labour war than the M4 bus lane. ... Yes, I can confirm today that from Christmas Eve this year until the Olympics, the M4 bus lane will be suspended. And once the Olympics are over, my intention is to scrap it permanently. Shortening average journey times; Reducing congestion; Restoring a sense of fairness. Consigning to the dustbin of history this hated symbol of the Prescott era.}} Seven Freedom of information requests were made the following day to various organisations (see below).

A section of the bus lane was removed and the lane reverted to all-traffic use on 16 November 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11763882|title=Stretch of M4 bus lane opens to all motorists|publisher=BBC News|quote=A section of the M4 bus lane has been removed overnight. Work to replace road signs and markings and create a revised road layout on the London-bound carriageway, near Heathrow Airport, began at 2200 GMT on Monday|date=16 November 2010}} By the end of December 2010 the entire lane had been removed and the full road width reverted to all-traffic use.

However, the 60 mph speed limit is still imposed on the stretch from junction 3.

A study by the Transport Research Laboratory 'Monitoring of the M4 bus lane: the first year' was produced in 2000 reported that the £1.9m scheme had reduced rush hour journey times by 3.5 minutes for buses and one minute for cars. Off-peak car journey times were a minute longer due to a reduced speed limit which was cut from {{convert|70|mph|km/h}} to {{convert|50|mph|km/h}} and overall journey times had increased by 1.8%. CO₂ emissions were cut by 16%, fuel consumption had improved by 16% and that noise levels were down by one decibel.

Transport for London reported that the 7% of M4 traffic that used the bus lane carried 21% of the people.{{cite news|title=Does this look like a U-turn?|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1119193.stm | date=18 January 2001 | accessdate=12 May 2010}}

TRL produced a further report in 2003 'Monitoring of the M4 bus lane: 2000 to 2002'.

A 2005 literature review of research into high-occupancy lanes produced for the Highways Agency reported that the lane was used about 3700 vehicles a day (3100 taxis, 500 buses or coaches and 100 minibuses) and that there was an overall benefit was 200 person-hours per weekday and a dis-benefit of 350 person-hours per weekend day; the dis-benefit being the result of the reduced speed-limit.{{cite web|url=http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/pilots_trials/files/trl2005a.pdf|title=Literature Review of HOV Lane Schemes|accessdate=2010-10-01|quote=There is an overall benefit of 200 person-hours per weekday ... On average, 3700 vehicles a day use the bus lane. Of these, 3100 are taxis, 500 are buses or coaches and 100 are minibuses}}

A number of freedom of information requests have been made in relation to the M4 bus lane:

• 14 August 2009—Highways Agency which revealed that a total of 20 Penalty Charge Notices had been issued since January 2008 for misuse of the bus lane.{{cite web|url=http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m4_bus_lane_number_of_pcns|title=M4 Bus Lane Number of PCN's|date=14 August 2009 }}
• 29 October 2009—Public Carriage Office which revealed that 192 complaints had been made about private hire vehicles using the bus lane.{{cite web|title=Bus Lane Complaints|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/bus_lane_complaints|publisher=MySociety|accessdate=13 October 2013|author=Darren Crowson|date=13 November 2009}}
• 2 October 2010—Seven FOI requests were received by agencies following the announcement that the lane was to be removed:
• Highways Agency (two requests), the first requested details of data held relating to the operation of the bus lane, in particular reports produced by the Transport Research Laboratory and around the decision to remove the lane. The Response was delayed with the reason given as "The complexity and volume of the requested information and the current position surrounding the issues of the M4 bus lane mean that it is impracticable for us to give a full response within the original 20 days".{{cite web|url=http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m4_bus_lane_highways_agency_data|title=M4 Bus Lane – Highways Agency – Data Held|work=WhatDoTheyKnow|date=2 October 2010 }} The second requested details of the changes, communications relating to the changes and analysis.{{cite web|url=http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m4_bus_lane_suspension_plans|title=M4 bus lane suspension plans|date=2 October 2010 }}
• Department for Transport requesting details of data held and correspondence relating to the bus lane. No response had been received by 13 November 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m4_bus_lane_highways_agency_data_2|title=M4 Bus Lane – Highways Agency – Data Held (Department for Transport)|date=2 October 2010 }}
• Transport for London who responded saying that they had not been part of any discussion.{{cite web|url=http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m4_bus_lane_highways_agency_data_3|title=M4 Bus Lane – Highways Agency – Data Held (Transport for London)|date=2 October 2010 }}
• Borough Councils traversed by the bus lane Hillingdon Borough Council,{{cite web|url=http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m4_bus_lane_highways_agency_data_5|title=M4 Bus Lane – Highways Agency – Data Held (Hillindon Borough Council|date=2 October 2010 }} Ealing Borough Council,{{cite web|url=http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m4_bus_lane_highways_agency_data_4|title=M4 Bus Lane – Highways Agency – Data Held (Ealing Borough Council)|date=2 October 2010 }} and Hounslow Borough Council{{cite web|url=http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m4_bus_lane_highways_agency_data_6|title=M4 Bus Lane – Highways Agency – Data Held (Hounslow Borough Council)|date=2 October 2010 }} responded saying that they had not been part of any discussion.
• 13 October 2010—Prime Minister's Office requesting details of correspondence regarding the removal of the M4 Bus Lane. The response was that no information was held by that office.{{cite web|title=Response from the Prime Minister's Office|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/49372/response/126309/attach/html/3/image.pdf.html|publisher=MySociety|accessdate=13 October 2013|author=Nicholas Howard|date=11 November 2010}}

The lane has been controversial since it was first introduced; In 2001 the Automobile Association suggested that it could only be deemed a success if 'significant numbers of drivers switched from their cars to public transport'{{cite news|title=M-way bus lane gets green light|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1120542.stm|publisher=BBC|date=2001-01-16}} and Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear said he would 'vote for anyone who promised to tear up that stupid pinko bus lane'. When John Prescott appeared as a guest on Top Gear on 27 February 2011, the bus lane was the first topic raised by Clarkson. Citing independent research, Prescott maintained that reducing the motorway to two general lanes, had improved traffic flow and raised the average speed and lowered journey times for all users, while also improving safety. Countering this theory, Clarkson asked why the government had agreed to widen other motorways, which Prescott justified on the rise in number of cars on the roads (7 million new cars).

In 2009 the Automobile Association described it as an underused 'white elephant'. When announcing the suspension of the scheme in 2010 Philip Hammond said that 'Nothing is more symbolic of Labour's war on the motorist', the RAC Foundation supported the move with director Stephen Glaister commenting that 'Most drivers on the M4 will wonder why this decision has taken so long'. A Freedom of Information request in 2009 revealed that the bus lane was barely enforced, with only 20 fixed penalty notices being issued in the preceding 18 months{{cite web|url=http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m4_bus_lane_number_of_pcns|title=M4 Bus Lane Number of PCN's|work=What do that know|date=14 August 2009 |accessdate=2010-10-01|quote=I have asked for the information you require, and I can confirm that since 1st January 2008 there have been 20 fixed penalty notices issued.}} and that private drivers were able to get away with regularly driving in it.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8249919.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=M4 bus lane is 'barely enforced' | date=11 September 2009 | accessdate=12 May 2010 | first=Tom | last=Edwards}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/indepth/m4buslane/ M4 Bus Lane] Explanation of the M4 bus lane on cbrd.co.uk
• [https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/m4-bus-lane-for-and-against-2135009.html M4 Bus Lane: For and against] Opposing views in The Independent

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Category:Coach transport in England

Category:Buses serving Heathrow Airport

Category:Road transport in London

Category:Taxis of London

Bus lane