[sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively, why not run on the other side of the road-divider?

[Lloyd Wright]

Quito only ran counter-flow for a short period (2 months) on its Ecovia line
while awaiting new vehicles with the doors on the correct side (left-sided
doorways). The trolley vehicles were with right-sided doorways.

In general, the evidence to date suggests that running counter-flow can work
but there are consequeces for pedestrians.  Invariably there are higher
pedestrian injuries and deaths due to forcing the pedestrian to look 4
directions just to safely cross the street. 

Here in Quito, the trolley already has a higher pedestrian accident rate due
to its quiet operation.  Adding in couter-flow movements would only worsen
this.

------ Original Message ------
Received: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:35:55 AM EDT
From: "Peter Lutman" <lutman at globalnet.co.uk>
To: <sri at pn1.vsnl.net.in>,	"Global 'South' Sustainable Transport"
<sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>
Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes  .... alternatively,	why	not run
on the other side of the road-divider?

I believe that the 'wrong-way' working on dedicated, segregated bus lanes is
used in Quito and elsewhere in South America so that (trolley)buses with doors
on the right can unload and load at central platforms. It seems to work well,
but I am not sure what arrangements would be necessary if the vehicles had to
leave the busway and join general traffic on a section of the route.

Peter Lutman