City transport chiefs are reading today’s Financial Times with great interest.

The internationally renowned newspaper reported that the controversial M4 bus lane has benefited both bus passengers and car drivers.

This good news about the world’s most famous bus lane is likely to give a boost to the City Council’s attempts to improve the reliability of buses and reduce the problems of congestion.

Buses, coaches and taxis are reported to be saving an average of 3.3 minutes per peak hour because of the bus lane and amazingly, car drivers are saving an average of 2-2.5 minutes per peak hour despite losing one lane of the motorway. Small though these savings are, they quickly add up; 740 hours each weekday are being saved, according to the Transport Research Laboratory.

The Financial Times points out that the 'Greenway' bus lanes in Edinburgh have cut journey times and led to an extra 250,000 bus trips in just six months.

Coventry, of course, has its own bus lanes. Some form part of the Primeline route on the Foleshill Road (Coventry’s first 'Bus Showcase' route). The City Council aims to introduce several more Primeline-like routes over the next few coming years.

Once all the elements of Primeline are in place, the City Council and Centro will be able to conduct their own evaluation of its full effect.

"Today’s reports are certainly very interesting"

said Councillor John McNicholas, Chair of the Council’s Environment and Transportation Policy Team.

"Of course in Coventry, we have a very different situation to those in Edinburgh or London. Even so, we can always learn lessons from successful schemes in other cities. The City Council is determined that the increase in traffic predicted over the next twenty years should have minimum impact on our economy. Bus Lanes will be one of the tools we employ as part of our integrated transport strategy that will keep Coventry moving."