As Tallinn Gives Public Transport Green Light, Some Warn of Bottlenecks
Tallinn has been implementing changes designed to get people to switch from driving to public transport by putting a crimp in the amount of capacity allotted to private vehicles.
Three additional priority lanes for city buses will be opened on existing carriageways, with the suddenness of the first one making news.
Residents awoke on July 10 to find that one lane of Narva maantee, an arterial route channeling traffic from the Pirita and Viimsi suburbs to the center, had been cordoned off for buses.
There will be more warning the next time. On August 20, the same thing should happen on Paldiski maantee, which funnels traffic from Õismäe and west of the city. Then it will be Pärnu maantee's turn - in that case many bus-only segments already exist but they will be connected.
The city has termed the arrangements the next stage in its public transport priority system.
"We prefer public transport. We are giving drivers a clear signal that if possible, drivers should also prefer public transport when heading downtown, where there is little room and no space for additional roads, said Talvo Rüütelmaa of the Tallinn Transport Department.
Some have seized the opportunity to criticize Mayor Edgar Savisaar's administration, seeing it as one part of plans that include a proposed and often-lampooned switch to free public transport.
Commentators have said that the solution is not as simple as simply painting "bus only" on pavement, and questioned whether Tallinn has a full vision for traffic reorganization.
The head of the Tallinn University of Technology transport planning chair, Dago Antov, said he considers Tallinn's new traffic system to in principle be the right one, but that better PR should have taken place.
"I very much hope the city government has spared thought to increase the number of buses on the same bus routes somewhat," he said.
Kristopher Rikken