Ilford Bus Lanes Reopening on Woodford Avenue Faces Local Opposition

Okay, so Woodford Avenue will get its bus lanes back. They’re planning to reopen them on June 2. They shut these lanes down last June because people said they felt unsafe with them, and traffic was also a worry.

The lanes popped up without asking anyone, as they wanted to help buses like the 123 and SL2. Now, they have a new plan: bus lanes will only work certain hours, from 7 AM to 10 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM on weekdays.

They asked folks what they think of this new plan, and that ended on March 13. If all goes well, work starts in May and they’ll put up new signs that will show the new times.

TfL said they watched the traffic closely, using data on speed and crashes. People started a petition to ditch the lanes, thinking the lanes cause bad traffic, snarling up roads and roundabouts nearby.

The petition also worries about safety, as people reported some close calls when turning left onto Lord Avenue. Over 900 people signed it since February 23.

Helen Cansick from TfL talked about the changes, saying the network must work for everyone. They are listening to what locals are saying since many rely on buses to get to school and jobs, and these changes should help buses stay useful and cheap so more people can use the reliable bus network.