Yahoo News Five reasons why I hate pointless and annoying bus lanes
Public transport is a vital lifeline for those who can't drive and the increasing number of people who can - but can't afford their own car.
Despite their failings - shoddy reliability, cost and lack of consistency - it's without question they open up new worlds for those who struggle to get by on their own steam.
But it often seems as if those who do drive are being punished for doing so and treated less favourably than other forms of transport. Like buses.
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Take, for example, bus lanes. Even the least cynical person in the world would struggle to see them as anything other than a blatant revenue stream.
Three years ago I discovered that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council raked in more than £800,000 in fixed penalties issued to motorists for driving in just THREE bus lanes.
The most lucrative bus lane in Blackburn was the system at Ewood which was created as part of the controversial £40m Pennine Reach scheme introduced in 2016. This particular bus lane, which effectively cuts off a huge residential area from 'normal' traffic, redrew the route between Blackburn and Darwen and, in my view, is very badly sign-posted.
I also revealed that there is one bus lane which doesn't even have a camera to catch motorists. And it's no wonder.
The ridiculously short bus lane at the bottom of Cravens Brow in Blackburn is pointless. Then of course there are the bus stops on such narrow roads that whenever a bus pulls up all traffic grinds to a halt. This is a particularly acute problem on sections of the A666 which is already subject to increasing levels of congestion.
The bus lane close to the junction leading to the M65, at Moss Bridge, is another bugbear of mine.
The road widens to become three lanes, with the two far right lanes leading to the motorway roundabout, but because the left-hand lane is, just before the traffic lights, designated for buses you often find that the queues stretch back as motorists are prohibited from moving left to continue on to Blackburn.
And then there's the cost of these mindless bus lanes. I'd love to know how much the one at the bottom of Cravens Brow cost.
Yes, buses are vital, but they're also becoming increasingly expensive. The other day, my daughter and I decided to hop on a bus to get to the garage where my car was being serviced, and I was gobsmacked at the cost.
For a journey of maybe a mile (she was complaining about walking) it cost us the grand total of £3.30. A taxi would have been cheaper.
My mechanic laughed about it when I told him of the cost of our tickets and said "oh yeah, there's a scheme where you can travel anywhere in Lancashire for £2.50". Yeah, and that's all well and good if you're going from Blackburn to Lancaster. But a mile for £3.30?!
Of course, council bosses said they're vital to ensure traffic flows freely - and highlight that Hackney carriages and cyclists can use them.
