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Buses World News
Buses World News
In brief: Worldwide montly news & informations about Buses, Busmakers, Passengers' and the Transport Industry
25.2.10
Bill * USA - Would Allow Private Vans and Buses in Transit-Only Lanes
Seattle,WASH,USA -PubliCola, by Erica C. Barnett-February 18, 2010:... Senate transportation leaderspushed through a bill that would allow private bus and vanpool companies unlimited access to facilities, like bus-rapid-transit lanes and public park-and-rides, currently reserved for public transit...The bill, would allow any vehicle with the capacity to carry eight or more passengers (except stretch limos and stretch SUVs) onto bus-only lanes, even if the vehicle has no passengers...The bill, ostensibly aimed at encouraging private transit services like Microsoft’s Connector buses toRedmond, would also open up bus lanes to charter vans, airport shuttles, and unspecified “private nonprofit transportation provider vehicles”...It would also allow those vehicles to park in park-and-rides at all hours...
New Bill * Ireland - New law to 'transform' national licensing regime for bus services
“We are introducing a completely new consumer-centred system for bus operators”
Dublin,Ireland -The Irish Times, by MARIE O'HALLORAN -November 4, 2009:-- Bus passengers will be at the centre of a “new transformed national bus licensing regime”, Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey,promised as he introduced a Bill to create a new licensing system for all public bus services... The Public Transport Regulation Bill will replace the current antiquated and inadequate regime that has applied for the past 77 years and brings the legislation governing the licensing of commercial bus services into the modern era, Mr Dempsey said... He said the legislation “establishes a uniform licensing framework for service providers, both private and State bus operators, thus eliminating any differences under the current regime which may have been perceived as conferring a market advantage"...(Photos.igougo: Dublin Buses in Dublin)
* USA - Maryland House Backs Bus Driver Interference Bill
Annapolis,MD,USA -NewsChannel 8 -19 March 2009: --The Maryland Houseunanimously approved legislation Thursday that would stiffen penalties for interfering with a school bus or mass transit driver while they are operating those vehicles."Interfering" includes obstructing, hindering or otherwise disrupting or disturbing the drivers... The bill makes it a misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to 18 months...
BILL * USA - NJ: No texting while operating train, bus
Trenton,N.J.,USA -NewsDay -January 26, 2009: --A bill barring train conductors and bus drivers in NewJerseyfrom text messaging or sending e-mails while their vehicles are moving is advancing... The Assembly transportation committee released the bill Monday... The bill was drafted in response to a fatal commuter train crash in California that killed 25 people... It allows electronic communications only in emergencies...
Bill * USA - Would curb obstructions for bus riders
Boston,MAS,USA -The Boston Globe, by Noah Bierman -January 4, 2009: --Anyone who rides MBTA buses knows how tough it is when you're dropped off 6 feet away from the curb and forced to dodge traffic to get to a sidewalk...Add a baby stroller, a wheelchair, or sight impairment and it gets trickier, if not impossible...The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authorityand advocates such as Summerfield hope a bill now on the governor's desk will discourage that practice. The bill, approved bythe Legislaturelast week, would raise tickets to $100 for parking at bus stops.Governor Deval Patrick's spokesmansaid his staff is still researching the measure to decide whether he will sign it...The inability to get to the curb is a top complaint of both passengers and bus drivers,Grabauskassaid. The T has been training drivers to do a better job in that effort as part of the $310 million class-action settlement with disabled passengers in 2006, he said... Anyone who ridesMBTA busesknows how tough it is when you're dropped off 6 feet away from the curb and forced to dodge traffic to get to a sidewalk...(Photo by Essdras M Suarez/Globe - Don Summerfield, a disability advocate from Cambridge, at an MBTA station)
* New Zealand - Bus services under threat from bill
The Public Transport Management Bill, if enacted in anything like its present form, could have a serious impact on bus services in theAuckland region
Auckland,New Zealand -The New Zealand Herald, by Michael Taggart -January 23, 2008: --... About 80 per cent of public passenger trips occur in Auckland and Wellington, and the vast majority are made by bus...The control given to regional government by the bill will remove many of the commercial incentives to provide efficient services and will put bus services under pervasive bureaucratic control... The existing bus services are a mix of "commercial" and "contracted" public transport. "Commercial" services are provided on routes for which there is no public subsidy and so must pay their way.That accounts for up to 40 per cent of the bus business in the Auckland region...In contrast, "contracted" servicesare provided on routes where "commercial" services would be uneconomic but the public interest demands buses and so these are subsidised from the public purse...This is the justification for the bill sweeping all "commercial" and "contracted" services up into a regional government-administered registration and licensing scheme... If the power is to remain in the hands of the regional council it should at least require ministerial approval or provision for an appeal to the district court... Without the inclusion of such safeguards, the bill as it stands offends constitutional principle. Furthermore, it contravenes the legislation advisory committee's guidelines on process and content of legislation in these ways:...(Video from YouTube, by Ciocco1975 -September 28, 2006: "Bus driving to Sky City Auckland")
It could be a traffic stopper, literally if not figuratively...
Halifax,Nova Scotia,Canada -The Chronicle Herald.ca -Dec 6. 2007: --We’re referring to a bill tabled in the legislature last week byMLA Leonard Preyra.He wants to force drivers of other vehicles to yield to transit buses trying to merge with traffic after picking up passengers...The proposed law has sparked mixed reviews.Metro Transit spokeswomanLori Pattersonwelcomes the proposal, saying it would send a clear signal that public transit is important to deal with traffic challenges and environmental issues. ButMaritime Taxi ownerDean Chaplindisagrees, complaining there are enough road-safety laws on the books without adding any more... WhenMr. Preyra’s bill becomes law, and we hope it quickly does so with the unanimous approval of all parties, it will hopefully result in motorists being more courteous in all of their driving. Anything that will reduce road rage and enhance the flow of traffic should be widely encouraged...
Seattle,WASH,USA -PubliCola, by Erica C. Barnett -February 18, 2010: ... Senate transportation leaders pushed through a bill that would allow private bus and vanpool companies unlimited access to facilities, like bus-rapid-transit lanes and public park-and-rides, currently reserved for public transit... The bill, would allow any vehicle with the capacity to carry eight or more passengers (except stretch limos and stretch SUVs) onto bus-only lanes, even if the vehicle has no passengers... The bill, ostensibly aimed at encouraging private transit services like Microsoft’s Connector buses to Redmond, would also open up bus lanes to charter vans, airport shuttles, and unspecified “private nonprofit transportation provider vehicles”... It would also allow those vehicles to park in park-and-rides at all hours... 
