North Belfast
Please note that the views expressed in the below consultation summary were recorded during the Reference Group meeting held September 2001 and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BMTP team.
Introduction
While the group agreed that congestion is a problem on key routes, concern was also expressed at the damage to local commercial life when people use their car to visit out of town shopping centres. Frustration was also expressed on account of the difficulty experienced by local people in using public transport in reaching jobs in industrial zones such as Duncrue because of the lack of direct routes.
Investment in public transport was seen as a key means of easing congestion problems. The restoration of the tram system should be especially investigated as should orbital bus routes. However, concern was expressed that while bus lanes can improve the flow of buses they can also harm shops dependent on roadside parking. Enforced car sharing should also be considered.
Road Traffic Congestion
Pinch Points
- Antrim Road
- Crumlin Road
- Church Road
Causes of Congestion
Lack of investment in public transport alternatives
Congestion Impact
Congestion in central areas encourages out of town shopping to the detriment of local commercial life
Air pollution caused by transport is perceived to be the cause of an asthma epidemic in North Belfast
Other Road Issues
Inner city road charging may only encourage out of town shopping
Bus lanes can restrict people parking near shops
Planning services are not applying best principles – developments are being approved which run counter to key/social/environmental objectives by promoting car use
Public Transport
Public transport has improved but there are gaps in the service including frequency levels and routes. For instance, people missing out on job opportunities in Duncrue etc. through lack of orbital routes.
Number of Bus services reduced, for example Ligoniel bus route to Shankill Road (55)
Public transport cost is not related to journey length and is expensive in comparison to other cities.
Pensioners between 60 and 65 are not getting the benefit of concessionary travel
There is insufficient promotion of bus services and schedules. People not fully aware of what service offers
Public transport provision reflects community division, permitting little cross-community contact
Flexibus, Easibus and community transport in area hit by regulations, low level of funding and lack of promotion
There is no journey time information at bus stops
Public transport does not meet the needs of the disabled and visually impaired. Innovations such as, announcements made by the bus driver to state the location of the next stop, would be useful and simple to impose.
Cycling/Walking
Lane from Glengormley to Belfast represents a reasonable effort but it is badly marked in places and people can loose trail.
Poor lighting and rubbish on footpaths in unattractive for walking. Footpaths were poor quality road surfaces, non-porous and poorly maintained
Suggested Initiatives and Solutions
Public transport should be treated as a public service and not driven by need for profitability
The geographical location of North Belfast and the divisions within it point to the need for a transport strategy, which is flexible and sensitive to local needs
In light of the new Springvale campus, bus routes from North to West Belfast need to be established
The Partnership would like to encourage both arterial and cross arterial transport provision.
The old Orbital No.66 route which passed the Waterworks and Gas works etc needs to be adapted and re-introduced. It was recognised that the Westlink and peacelines now run through the old route.
Current membership of the Easibus scheme available to the disabled and elderly should be extended to include all residents in the area. It should also introduce stop off points in the city centre
Timetable information should be provided at all stops in 12hour format, within pointer maps indicating ‘you are here’
Vital that public transport is cheap and reliable in order to lure people from their cars
Congestion could also be addressed through car sharing lane and lay by parking for buses as well as using bus lanes for HOVs. However public transport improvements must be in place before car restraint measures
Consider development of Home Zones
Need to consider tram system for future. City should acommodate system as it had one before.
Stop out of town developments – shopping centres
Learn from the experience of other countries (eg Four Cities study)
Look for cleaner fuel for use in buses
Need to ensure that all relevant studies, particularly the Area Plan, are proceeded with according to schedule otherwise inconsistencies will arise and further delays in remedial action will occur
Investigate now waterways could be better exploited
Need for the use of cleaner fuels to reduce pollution
The La Rochelle model, where a system of collective taxis was developed in areas poorly serviced by public transport or for when bus services stop running was cited as a good example that could be adapted in North Belfast. The system ensures that if four people wish to travel to the same place, the price of the journey is the same as a bus ticket
Car dependency reducing schemes should be introduced, such as car-pooling, new housing only allocated to tenants on condition that they do not use their car to commute to work
In allocating contracts the Belfast City Council should only consider firms who have proven ‘green’ transport policies
Black Taxis provides cheaper more frequent and direct transport than buses. The North Belfast Fleet consists of around 60 vehicles and is continually expanding. It is very important that taxis are integrated in to the BMTP as a valuable provider of public transport
