Bus Usage
St John’s RCVA Comprehensive School in Bishop Auckland joined the School Travel Plan programme with an aim to addressing the access and accommodation of its school buses on the school site when arriving and departing on a daily basis.
The School Travel Planning Working Group identified that problems were encountered by bus operators in delivering and picking up students due to the layout of the car park and bus drop-off area. Concerns were also expressed regarding access for students arriving on foot; due to the layout they accessed and left the school site by walking across the car and bus area.
Acting upon these recommendations and following extensive consultation, improvements were made to the car and bus area. Improvements included:
- The provision of designated bus bays for the school buses to allow each bus to have a regular pick up and drop off location.
- A new footpath was constructed to utilise the site more fully.
- Pedestrian guard railing was installed to segregate students from traffic.
- New road markings ensure sections of the site are kept free from traffic, and a ‘pedestrian only’ entrance was constructed to improve walking access for students.
Frank O’Neill, the deputy head teacher at the school, was delighted with the new arrangements and commented that “… the new arrangements provided a much safer access to buses and even when buses are late, the pedestrian guard rail and gate make it much easier for staff to ensure that there is little danger for students …”.
The school submitted their School Travel Plan to the DfT and DfES for approval in March 2005. Their School Travel Plan was approved and the school were awarded £10,346. They intend to spend their award on a secure cycle shelter for the school site.
Note: It must be stressed that improvements to, or the provision of new, bus facilities can no longer be funded from the school travel planning programme if the proposed measures are only to address concerns over bus use. The reason for this is that improving bus facilities can not achieve any positive modal shift. Where it can clearly be demonstrated that rationalising existing bus facilities will improve access arrangements for pedestrians and cyclists and that this is likely to increase walking and cycling, then improvements may be considered.
For more information on measures that have been implemented then visit case studies.
