Wilanowska - known by older Warsaw residents as Dworzec Południowy (analogous to W-wa Zachodnia and Wschodnia) - is a massive transport hub through which those heading south out of Warsaw must pass to move from Metro or tram to bus. Indeed, there used to be a narrow-gauge railway terminus here, for trains coming up from Góra Kalwaria and Grójec (UPDATE: November 2017 - see this post for more history of that line).
The Metro is excellent at delivering Ursynauers to Ursynów. But for residents of Piaseczno and their wealthier brethren living in Konstancin, you've got to get around Las Kabacki somehow. The forest is a huge obstacle, enclosing Ursynów from the south and funnelling southbound traffic either down Puławska (west of the forest) or Przyczółkowa -Drewny -Warszawska to the east.
Above: Wilanowska bus terminal. Between 17:00 and 18:00, a bus leaves here every three minutes down Puławska alone. In total, 23 different day buses, three night buses and five tram lines pass through or terminate at Wilanowska. Plus long-distance PKS and PolskiBus.com coaches. The volume of buses leaving here is very high - if only there were a bus lane along Puławska and Przyczółkowa and buses could move swiftly past jams of stationary motorists rather than being stationary too. UPDATE 2022: Bus lane installed, journey times from Jeziorki almost halved.
Above: the bar with the tree sticking out of its roof - a bit of Slavic whimsy to add character to the place. A recent arrival to this rather bizarre row of booths, kebaberies, kiosks and bars is a cash-only ticket office for PolskiBus.com.
Above: looking north-east at the bus terminal. Between the buses and the distant blocks of flats - a three-level park+ride for 290 cars. Assuming they each take 1.5 occupants (which I doubt), the car park full holds cars for as many people as just three articulated buses could carry.
Park+Rides this close to the city centre make little sense. The cost of building the Wilanowska P+R could have bought dozens of new buses with enough money to paint a line down Puławska.
This time two years ago:
Powiśle on a cold, clear autumn morning
This time three years ago:
Okęcie "to remain Warsaw's only airport"
This time four years ago:
Searching for autumnal perfection
Above: Wilanowska bus terminal. Between 17:00 and 18:00, a bus leaves here every three minutes down Puławska alone. In total, 23 different day buses, three night buses and five tram lines pass through or terminate at Wilanowska. Plus long-distance PKS and PolskiBus.com coaches. The volume of buses leaving here is very high - if only there were a bus lane along Puławska and Przyczółkowa and buses could move swiftly past jams of stationary motorists rather than being stationary too. UPDATE 2022: Bus lane installed, journey times from Jeziorki almost halved.
Above: the bar with the tree sticking out of its roof - a bit of Slavic whimsy to add character to the place. A recent arrival to this rather bizarre row of booths, kebaberies, kiosks and bars is a cash-only ticket office for PolskiBus.com.
Above: looking north-east at the bus terminal. Between the buses and the distant blocks of flats - a three-level park+ride for 290 cars. Assuming they each take 1.5 occupants (which I doubt), the car park full holds cars for as many people as just three articulated buses could carry.Park+Rides this close to the city centre make little sense. The cost of building the Wilanowska P+R could have bought dozens of new buses with enough money to paint a line down Puławska.
This time two years ago:
Powiśle on a cold, clear autumn morning
This time three years ago:
Okęcie "to remain Warsaw's only airport"
This time four years ago:
Searching for autumnal perfection
it all seems so....um, dark.
ReplyDeleteWe turn our clocks back this weekend.
You're a little "closer" for a few days
Basia
This whole 'clocks going back' nonsense is increasingly farcical. The EU should take a leaf out of Russia's book and simply scrap it (after due democratic process of public dialogue and consultation)... On second thoughts, Herman van Rompuy should just announce one Saturday evening that there will be no more time change, like Medvedev did :)
ReplyDelete