Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-29
Asks Delay
In Trial Of
Bus Lone Plan

uS1Mu
District Traffic Director George
E. Keneipp today proposed
abandoning the Districts war
time taxicab group-riding rule.
The traffic director said the
group-riding provision, which
requires cabs to stop and pick
up additional riders going in
the same general direction, sis
now no longer necessary or de-
sirable." He also labeled it detri-
mental to traffic.
Mr.. Keneipp's proposal was
made in a reoprt to the District
Commissioners which recon-
mended delay in any trial of pro-
posed reserved bus lanes on Dis
trict streets until after further
information is obtained.
D. c. Transit Co. recently asked
for exclusive bus use of lanes on
some District streets. The city
heads haven't yet acted on the
request.
Urges One-Street Limit
! Mr.. Keneipp urged that the
transit company be required to
supply detailed traffic data on
any streets suggested for trial.
He also asked that the expert
ment be limited to one street
at time.
Mr.. Keneipp said that if the
Commissioners approve the re-
port, he will make a formal pro-
posal on the taxicab matter to
the Public Utilities Commission.
He said the present group riding
rule might be a stumbling block
to the proposed bus-lane idea.
Taxicab drivers under regula-
tons adopted in World War II
must stop when hailed, even
though they already have a pas
senger. If the additional pros
pective passenger is bound with
in five blocks of the route already
embarked on. he must be picked
up. Group riders get the benefit
of a reduced fare.
Mr.. Keneipp said that taxi
cabs stop frequently to pick UP
extra passengers, especially in
rush hours.
Prolonged Stops
More often than not" he
said, their stop is prolonged
while they ascertain from the
prospective passenger whether
or not he is going near their
destination. This practice causes
delay, not only to buses, but
to all other traffic, particularly
to those vehicles desiring to
turn right.
1T is our view" Mr.. Keneipp
declared, that group-riding
adopted in Washington as a war
measure is now no longer nee
IesSary or desirable, and is def
nitely detrimental to the expe-
ditious movement of buses and
other traffic. There would appear
to be little or no justification
flor its continuance under to-
days conditions"
Suggests Criteria
With reference to the bus lane
proposal, Mr.. Keneipp listed a
number of criteria which he
said should be met.
These included:
l. Curb lanes should be re-
served only for peak traffic
periods and where "No Standing"
rules can be applied and where
the street is wide enough to &C.
commodate peak traffic. Taxi
cabs should have full access to
the lane and vehicles turning
right should have access to it
within 200 feet of the approach
to the intersection.
2. All-day lanes should be in
the center of the street only and
on streets wide enough to ac-
commodate other traffic and
freight loading.
I 3. Transit lanes should be only
on streets where transit vehicles
will use them reasonably con-
tinuously.
4. Center-street reserved lanes
should be established only where
adequate control of right-turn-
ing buses can be provided by
traffic signals.
S. The transit company should
furnish data both before and
after establishment of reserved
lanes on travel and loading time
and delays.
6. Reserved lanes should show
consistent time saving in the
operation of buses without any
material increase in the time Of
travel of other traffic.
7. All mass transit vehicles
should use the reserved lane ex-
clusively unless obstructed by
vehicles illegally operating in the
lanes. -
No Long Delay
Mr.. Keneipp said after SUBJ
hitting the report that he
thought its adoption by the Com
missioners would not mean any
long delay in setting up a trial
Of the bus lane plan. He said
he understood the transit COM
pany already had made some
studies on certain streets. and
that the District could complete
It's own studies quickly, once a
specific street had been pro-
posed.
Q. Roy Chalk, transit presi-
dent. on November 20 asked for
transit lanes on portions OF eight
Northwest streets and one street
in the Northeast. Mr.. Keneipp
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