Traffic signal priority is an other method to promote public transport. However, this possibility is not used as often as the bus lanes, because it needs advanced knowledge about signal control and an equipment to detect buses. Both cases are important for the development of bus priority concept. The detection method should be able to be integrated to other public transport telematics as the real-time passenger information and the fleet control. The effects of bus priority have been discussed often in newspapers.
Bus priority does make sense decreasing delays for buses and trams.
Its effects for all traffic are not evaluated very much. Therefore it is important to have some knowledge about the quantitative effects of bus priority to the delays, fuel consumption and discharges of other traffic - not only for decision makers but also for the public discussion. Bus detection is the corner stone of any bus priority system. Several pilot bus detection equipment has been installed in Helsinki. They were thoroughly tested in real traffic conditions.