The final seven Calgary ‘bus traps’ were filled in various locations across Calgary, remnants of years gone by preventing unauthorized access to Calgary Transit routes.
According to the City, the last traps were filled in January and February this year.
LiveWire Calgary was first to report on the City’s planned removal of the bus traps 18 months ago after a briefing note on the fixtures had come to Calgary city council.
“The use of bus traps as a traffic control application is no longer viable for several reasons,” the city’s briefing note at the time read.
The City, who provided more information on the bus traps Wednesday, said cars that mistakenly hit the bus traps incurred damage and costs, along with being a scary situation for drivers.
“They’re also counterproductive because transit service is interrupted when a vehicle is stuck in the exact lane that was meant to be kept clear,” the City said in a media briefing.
“Additionally, smaller transit shuttles and emergency response vehicles are not able to pass through.”
The traps have now been filled with asphalt or concrete across the city.
City of Calgary Mobility Director Troy McLeod said that they want to keep people more safely for all modes of travel.
“I’ve spoken with people who accidentally drove into a bus trap, and it was a terrifying experience for them,” said McLeod.
“When it comes to these old traps, the consequences are excessive, and they disrupt transit service. We have more effective methods to ensure compliance and safety for Calgarians and removing them was simply the right thing to do.”
Used as a deterrent
When the traps were first put in fifty years ago, the City said it seemed like a good idea to put a big hole covered with bars in the middle of the road.
The intent, of course, was to deter vehicles from entering the area and still allow free passage for transit vehicles and larger emergency vehicles.
Though the traps are gone, the City of Calgary said the roadways are off-limits for personal vehicles.
“Transit-only lanes are not to be used by drivers as shortcuts through neighbourhoods or for any other reason,” the City said.
Signs around the transit-only areas will be updated to inform drivers it’s a restricted area, and they will use traffic cameras to monitor and enforce traffic rules in the area.
