'New city bus gate causing bottleneck and gridlock' - Reader's open letter
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In an open letter to Sheffield City Council, Star reader Eleanor Bird raises issues with a city bus gate...
I have used the Furnival Gate car park for work for several years. Sheffield City Council has recently introduced a new bus gate on Matilda Street, with the stated aim of improving bus flow. However, based on my experience since it became operational, the change does not appear to be achieving that aim.
There also appears to have been insufficient advance warning for drivers approaching from the roundabout towards Matilda Street and Charter Row. As a result, drivers are unexpectedly diverted left onto Earl Way, then left again back towards the same roundabout at the top of Eyre Street. This has caused significant congestion, including bottlenecks and gridlock on and around the roundabout, as shown in the attached photographs.
On Saturday, September 19, it took me 50 minutes simply to exit the NCP car park, followed by a further 20 minutes to get through the traffic lights. Buses attempting to navigate the roundabout to reach the bus gate were also delayed on the roundabout for far longer than they would previously have been.
I find it difficult to understand the rationale behind this decision, particularly as bus lanes already operate on Arundel Gate and Charter Row, with only a short section between them without one. Since Arundel Gate was closed to cars, traffic from 4+ car parks, as well as vehicles heading towards the Parkway, have already been directed towards this small roundabout. With access to Charter Row now restricted, even more traffic is likely to be diverted along Eyre Street.
Before Covid, I regularly used buses. During Covid, I drove because I continued working throughout lockdown. After Covid, I attempted to return to using the bus, but reduced services and delays caused me to be half an hour late for work on three consecutive days, so I returned to driving. This latest change now makes that option considerably more difficult unless I accept a much longer commute.
I would ask Sheffield City Council to review the impact of this bus gate urgently, including the signage, traffic flow around the roundabout, and the effect on drivers, buses, and local workers who rely on access to the city centre. You must do better