Bus Route 15 - Update

On Thursday 28 July, two members of the Community Council met with representatives of First Aberdeen, ACC Public Transport Unit, ACC Road Safety Dept, and ACC Roads Operations. Liam Kerr MSP was also there. All present rode on the 10.43 service bus from Countesswells Avenue to the Countesswells Development and back.  

During the trip the bus encountered about a dozen cars, a jogger, and a large delivery lorry. Every car had to straddle the white demarcation line at the side of the carriageway and, on a couple of occasions, leave the road into an opening to let the bus pass. When the jogger was encountered running toward the bus, the bus came to a halt to let them, and a car travelling in the same direction, pass.

The lorry was encountered at a point where the lorry managed to pull off the road to let the bus pass.

Throughout the journey the bus speed did not exceed 30mph and a tailback of six cars was observed on the way out to the Countesswells Development.

All in all it was an eventful journey with plenty of examples underlining our concerns for road safety and convenience. There were no passengers on the bus either on the outward or city bound journeys.

The First Aberdeen representative consistently denied that there were any problems and suggested that many bus routes across Scotland, and in Aberdeen, were narrow. He said his drivers were all trained to the highest level and that the route was suitable. When asked about using the Queens Road corridor he said that the 15 route had been developed to allow Countesswells residents to access the new Aldi store at Countesswells Road. He had no complaints from drivers but conceded he hadn’t asked for views. He had favourable comments from Countesswells residents.

First Aberdeen were quite firm that there were no plans to change the route. ACC Roads Operations were concerned about the erosion of road edges and had already received claims form drivers claiming the potholes at the side of the carriageway had damaged their wheels and tyres.

The ACC Public Transport Unit are to meet with the other council reps and consider a way forward. 

We will keep you updated.