Bus lanes long overdue

SIR: I was delighted to read in last week's Guardian that the county council is considering a bus and taxi lane scheme in the roads between Broadwater and the centre of Worthing.

Such a scheme is long overdue. I think West Sussex is the only region of the country so far without bus lanes.

Bus passengers, both actual and potential, must find the current congestion both in Broadwater and around the station quite dreadful.

The level-crossing gates both at South Farm Road and, although this is not immediately relevant, at West Worthing station, are often down for a long time - sometimes for as many as four trains at one go - and we all know how much congestion this causes around the southern approaches to the station, quite often adding several minutes to a bus journey time.

I wish some co-ordination between the bus and train companies could take place.

I see some bus passengers - some of them known to me personally - struggling to cross the Warren Road where it serves as both the A24 and A27.

It is a nightmare for them even more than for the drivers; can't there be a bridge, tunnel or traffic lights for them?

The same applies at the top of the hill at Washington, where the South Downs Way crosses the A24.

Many local residents, as well as walkers on the Downs such as myself, struggle to cross this road.

Can't Worthing Hospital have bus access from the northern parts of the town?

Can't the eastern parts of the town have decent bus access to Worthing station?

Can't Connex distribute the bus timetables and maps at their stations? They are, after all, going into the bus business in some areas.

Can't the 100 bus service, Pulborough to Henfield be integrated with Stagecoach's Explorer bus tickets in some way, so as to make a Worthing to Steyning journey cheaper and simpler?