The installation of new flexible bollards on Balmes street in Barcelona marked the first day of a pilot program to change right-turn dynamics. The aim is for vehicles turning right to do so from the middle lane, avoiding the bus lane and yielding to taxis and buses, similar to measures for bike lanes.
Despite the City Council's efforts to signal the new system with bollards and red lane markings to highlight bus priority, confusion is evident. Many drivers continue to enter the bus lane before the intersection, which the bollards are intended to prevent. This creates risky situations, with cars and motorcycles using the wrong lane.
Drivers who do respect the new rule, turning from the middle lane, often have to yield not only to buses and taxis but also to cars that break the rules. This situation, coupled with the impatience of some drivers, leads to tension and occasional scares, such as sudden braking or vehicles cutting in front of buses.
The ultimate goal of this measure is to improve the commercial speed of buses on lines V15, 7, 63, and 67, which are currently among the slowest in the city. Although it is still early to assess the impact, some bus drivers are hopeful that, over time, citizens will become accustomed to the new system.
