Sir, - The one-day bus strike has once again focused attention on the root causes of traffic congestion in the greater Dublin area. The welcome measure of allowing all motorists to use bus lanes improved traffic flow and the threatened catastrophic effects of the industrial action failed to materialise.
Surely it is time to re-examine the policy on to bus lanes? As a minimum, vehicles carrying three or more people should be allowed to use all lanes. This measure is in use in many countries, notably the US. Also, for some of the narrow strips in use, all motorists should be allowed to use a bus lane at all times as long as they do not to block it.
While I am not a traffic expert, common sense and observation shows that bus lanes cause an artificial obstacle to all traffic (including buses) and some changes to the current situation, where bus lanes are virtually vacant while there are queues in the other lanes, should be made in the interests of all road users. - Yours, etc.
Mark Lysaght, Landscape Park, Dublin 14.