[Closed] Bristol BRT2 route - Ashton Avenue Bridge

Personally I wish Tim Kent would just **** off.

What a f***ing rediculous concept. Lose half the traffic lights in Bristol and you'd soon find traffic flow improving.

The bendy buses do work in Bristol on the new routes, I use the 902 and it's sodding useful, however that route looks utterly daft.

They've spent millions on bringing the docks to a reasonable level so that people enjoy the time down there and wandering about. In addition, it's a very well used commute for walkers and cyclists (like myself) to get into work without going anywhere near traffic.

Now they want ruin all that to appease a couple of out of touch councillors with toes in the the First pie.

it's a very well used commute

Indeed. It's gonna screw a good cycle route into town.

Grimshaw is not [url= http://road.cc/content/news/59405-bristol-should-lose-cycling-city-status-says-sustrans-founder-john-grimshaw ]amused.[/url]

Mate of mine works at Sustrans, I'll have a word with him to see what they're doing; I wouldn't mind getting behind something if they were looking to kick off about it - it will affect my enjoyable commute, and Bristol for the future - one of the reasons why I enjoy living here. Hence, losing such an enjoyable route will be a travesty.

>growsabeardanddonsRonhills<

losing such an enjoyable route will be a travesty

I agree.

The proposed scheme is a waste of money. There are plenty of alternative (& cheaper) infrastructure improvements that could be considered.

Besides which... it sounds daft, but I think that bridge is a magical little spot, especially at dusk - I love the post-trails ride to the Nova. I dinnae really want buses running through it. 👿

noteeth

Besides which... it sounds daft, but I think that bridge is a magical little spot, especially at dusk - I love the post-trails ride to the Nova

Absolutely agree; something magical about my day at work being completely washed away by riding along the docks, river and then through that bridge before up into AC.

Having to fight it out with buses really doesn't appeal.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo! 😥

There are plenty of alternative (& cheaper) infrastructure improvements that could be considered.

Go on then.............

Umm.

From the same site: http://stopbrt2.org.uk/and-better-ways

The Portishead link is one that the area has been screaming for years for; having worked in Avonmouth, and commuted through Portishead once or twice, I know that many Portishead locals would love this opportunity, as well as the benefits to the Ashton Gate goers (footy) and the Beaminster locals who could do with a way of getting across town easily without being stuck in traffic all the time...

Go on then.............

For a start, [i]not[/i] spending so much money on such an ill-thought out scheme - unless you think it's such a great idea? Holy fug, they could simply buy every rate-payer a bike - it'd do more good. Or (here's a thing) sort out the (expensive) mess that is existing bus provision.

I'd rather see a light railway than this kind of nonsense.

Hopefully any development will mean the implementation of some street lighting along this part of Festival Way. Surprised that it wasn't thought about before the route was opened to be honest.

Thanks for posting this noteeth, I wasn't aware of this latest idiocy.

We should fight them on the bridges, and on the pump track. We should fight them along the dockside, on spike island, we should fight them on the towpaths and cycleways, the trails, both manmade and natural. We should fight with growing confidence and growing strength on two wheels (by which I refer to pedal-powered cycles generally, nothing against tricycles etc) and we should defend our city, whatever the cost may be. Never surrender.

We should fight them on the bridges, and on the pump track.

Damn right! 😀

😆 @ wordnumb

The thing is a lot of councils have pet projects and no matter what the cost,they will try and make them go ahead, despite the public not wanting them.But guided busways are reasonably cheap to build and the buses can also run on roads with out guides, trams cant.

There where plans for a guided busway in chester, along a cycletrack and luckily it failed, liverpool also wanted trams and it again failed,manchester wanted a congestion charge and it failed.

Strangely trams seem quite succesful in Manchester.

All we can do is complain until sence is seen and new plans drawn up.

Bristol City Council. *sigh*

Some days it really does feel like vested interests are trying to shit all the character out of Bristol. Like when you look at photos of the centre from ten years ago and realise that grass and a couple of half-arsed hedges looked infinitely better than what's there now.

Weren't they talking about running one of these bus routes along the Bristol-Bath cyclepath as well at one point?

What sort of lock is best for lying down in front of bulldozers?

Weren't they talking about running one of these bus routes along the Bristol-Bath cyclepath as well at one point?

Yup, got a pretty angry reception.

Weren't they talking about running one of these bus routes along the Bristol-Bath cyclepath as well at one point?

That proposal was so ridiculous it involved the compulsory purchasing of gardens belong to people whose houses back onto the path.

The submitted objections by interested parties are worth reading:

http://www.persona.uk.com/ashton/PoE_Interested_Parties.htm

Looks like the council/BRT promoters aren't bothered by the potential effect upon the dockside/M-Shed (which has been a demonstrable success with visitors, many of whom also enjoy the railway), or the implications for walkers & cyclists (watch yerself on Prince Street Bridge...) - or, indeed, for anybody who enjoys the character of the area.

noteeth, whats the long and short of those objections? Good or bad?

Not so clever at these councily things. Can't we just chain ourselves naked to some diggers?

noteeth, whats the long and short of those objections?

It's a pretty varied group - everybody from the Civic Society, Ramblers, transport planners, Friends of the New Cut, Cyclists, Industrial Archaeologists, the Railway volunteers, local residents - all of whom make good points & draw similar conclusions.

Namely, that it's a damn fool idea.

Spread the word!

I'd rather see a light railway than this kind of nonsense.

You'd cost me even more money then. Rough order of cost for rapid transit systems is that a tram system costs x10 more than a bus system and a train system is x10 more than that.

Bristol needs an effective rapid transit system to remove more cars from the city. It needs to be bus-based for cost reasons. After that, there are a number of options. Better integration with the town planning would also be required for a more sustainable future plan, but that is too big a step for now.

BTW - you didn't offer any alternative to the proposed scheme - other than buying bikes.

Bristol needs an effective rapid transit system to remove more cars from the city

Do you think the current BRT plans would achieve this and justify the cost?

Bristol needs an effective rapid transit system to remove more cars from the city. It needs to be bus-based for cost reasons.

Absolutely, the cost of the proposed reopening the Portishead line is outragous for something that imo will never turn a profit.

Do you think the current BRT plans would achieve this and justify the cost?

Personally, not really. However, just saying 'no' and not proposing anything else isn't constructive. I do think the route has potential (not a lot else that is fairly flat and able to be turned into a dedicated route) with some adapting and that bus-based is the only option. Beyond that, there are other things that would be needed as well. Where else are there clear tracts of land that pierce the city?

Personally, not really. However, just saying 'no' and not proposing anything else isn't constructive.

Me neither, however just saying 'yes' potentially means a scheme that is quite destructive. 'No' is a fair response to something that doesn't look to be solving the problem.

Just because there is a clear tract of land that pierces the city doesn't mean you have to gobble it up and build on it in a misguided attempt to solve a larger problem.

Some interesting reading found via the previously linked stopbrt2 site:
https://sites.google.com/site/brt2publicinquiry/welcome

'No' is a fair response to something that doesn't look to be solving the problem.

'No' doesn't do much to help the lobby against daft proposals in any circumstances. It just demonstrates a stance against something and doesn't usually achieve much. Getting people to think about possible solutions rather than not liking the one proposed is more likely to garner support and demonstrate a willingness to resolve the problem rather than merely object to a proposed (no matter how flawed) solution. Public engagement is required.

Just because there is a clear tract of land that pierces the city doesn't mean you have to gobble it up and build on it in a misguided attempt to solve a larger problem.

Quite right. However, my basic premise is that a rapid transit system is much needed in Bristol and a bus-based solution is the most financially viable. It requires a dedicated route. Where would you put it then?

However, just saying 'no' and not proposing anything else isn't constructive.

Er, how so? Because as far as that particular stretch is concerned, I hope they do nothing and leave it well alone. Increasing numbers of people - using nothing more expensive than their own initiative - are cycling/walking into town, many of 'em along that route. The existing BRT plans give such commuters minimal consideration - indeed, the proposed Prince Street Bridge bus routing is utterly daft from a safety POV. I suspect the promised Gov funding partly explains the Council's desire to build, build, build. The passenger/journey time projections (themselves apparently flawed) will do little to ease Bristol's terminal gridlock - be the journey local or from out-of-town.

Better integration with the town planning would also be required for a more sustainable future plan, but that is too big a step for now.

If we are going to really grip the problem, then this should be the [i]first[/i] step. The council funding would be better spent on sorting out the mess that is existing Brizzle bus provision. I've recently spent 5 years in Southampton - their Unilink service (a collaboration between the Council, University and Bus co) pishes all over First's efforts.

Where would you put it then?

To be quite frank, I'd use existing road infrastructure. If we are serious about getting people out of cars, we need to be radical about it.

Quite right. However, my basic premise is that a rapid transit system is much needed in Bristol and a bus-based solution is the most financially viable. It requires a dedicated route. Where would you put it then?

Who cares if it's the most financially viable solution, if in truth it isn't actually a solution though? Do we just go ahead and splash the cash cause "well I can't really think of anything better..."

Public engagement is vital as you say, and thankfully there are people who speak up to question this scheme. Whilst they may not be able to respond with an alternative that ticks all boxes, they're more than entitled to highlight the failings of the current scheme, failings that the professionals should be picking up on before things race ahead.

Once you've built on this clear tract of land that is used by many pedestrians and cyclists it's unlikely that you'll get it back should the scheme turn out to be ill thought out and an unwise use of money (which judging by the number of objections seems rather close to the truth).

To be quite frank, I'd use existing road infrastructure. If we are serious about getting people out of cars, we need to be radical about it.

That won't work if you want to make real improvements. To get the passenger density you need double or triple length buses - part of the reason they need their own lanes to run in. With those sort of lengths you would need to vary a lot from the existing road routes as the frequency of tight bends (and hills) etc are prohibitive.

Do we just go ahead and splash the cash cause "well I can't really think of anything better..."

No - and that isn't what I say. I'm saying 'Bristol needs rapid transit' so work needs to be done to find the most cost effective and the best routes.

With those sort of lengths you would need to vary a lot from the existing road routes as the frequency of tight bends (and hills) etc are prohibitive.

Equally true of BRT2 (albeit without the hills), as StopBRT [url= http://stopbrt2.org.uk/why-we-oppose-brt2 ]point out[/url]:

[i]"This section of the route [/i][from Long Ashton Park and Ride to the Arnolfini] [i]is divided into 17 sections (8 guided, 9 unguided) over its 4.3km (2.7 miles) length. The guided parts run for only 2km (1.3 miles) inbound and 1.3km (0.8 mile) outbound. Blind corners, sharp bends, single track sections, and traffic lights, all mean it is impossible to deliver any of the potential benefits of a guided busway. It is misleading to refer to the whole BRT2 scheme as a guided busway given the fragmented nature of the guided sections and the short distance they cover within the whole scheme."[/i]

No - and that isn't what I say. I'm saying 'Bristol needs rapid transit' so work needs to be done to find the most cost effective and the best routes.

All for a well thought out, cost effective system that's not detrimental to the immediate environment...BRT2 that ain't however.

This would be such a shame 🙁

I have been saying for years that Bristol needs something like a cable car/gondola/overhead monorail system. Could run from the park and ride at Ashton Gate and somehow make it's way all the way up Whiteladies to the Downs via a couple of changes.

Would get all the buses off those roads which would make traffic run smoother and the roads safer.

The 'improvements' they did on whiteladies road baffle me. They have made the road narrower making it impossible to get around stopped buses and harder for emergency services. Really have no idea why there seems to be parking bays in a bus lane either.

could have had a nice overhead system that would also double up for sightseeing around the waterfront during off-peak times. Perfect for slinging your bike on if you don't fancy riding up park street too and it could be used to take people to within a brief walk of Ashton Court, Cabot Circus etc etc and the railway station at Clifton Down.

[img] [/img]

All the necessary ingredients for a romantic meal at the Olive Shed: wine, candles, double-decker bus.

There is a public meeting on [url= http://stopbrt2.org.uk/next-stopbrt2-public-meeting-31-july ]31 July[/url], for anybody interested in opposing this scheme.

Bump.

Public meeting is tonight, 7.30 pm at the Hen & Chicken (North Street).

It's just dawned on me that this will impinge massively on my enjoyment of a nice bacon, egg and sausage sandwich at Brunels Buttery.

Are more buses really needed in Bristol - this strikes me as a lack of imagination.

noteeth,

how did the meeting go?

how did the meeting go?

Sorry deluded, missed your post. 😳

The meeting: I arrived late after my shift (& thank goodness they had Doom Bar - I was desperate for a pint!). I guess there were 15 or so people in attendance - a mixture of local/harbour residents & various transport types.

The main focus seemed to be on how best to raise [the various] concerns with the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (advice on writing letters here: http://stopbrt2.org.uk/how-contact-your-mp-and-local-enterprise-partnership). Needless to say, there was a pretty strong feeling that Bristol is being sold a duff scheme (both in economic & transport terms) - not least because the Council seem desperate to slap [i]something[/i] down, just in order to merit the additional Gov funding (especially given current demands to 'invest in infrastructure'). So, one angle of attack could be the de-coupling of that funding & directing it towards other projects. The trouble being that most people instinctively agree with what is touted as a 'integrated transport solution', without necessarily realising what is being proposed.

Various issues were raised in terms of detrimental effects upon business, tourist & heritage interests (e.g. the M-Shed area of dockside), as well as the fact that some business interests are decidedly supportive of the scheme (e.g. Bristol Airport). The proposed bus route over the Prince Street swing bridge is a major issue - just daft, IMO.

As a resident of Ashton Road (and as a commuter, mountain biker & reasonably-frequent Nova drinker!), I suppose my main concern was how little notice has been given to locals regarding the Ashton Avenue bridge. There's a lot of dog walkers, runners, cyclists etc who are going to have a [i]major[/i] shock when they start sending buses through there (& the festival way cutting). Yes, cycle/pedestrian access will be maintained, but I think it will be a sad day when/if it happens. Again, I'm being rather sentimental about that corner of town - but it has a certain charm the way it is: a kind of interface between the Avon Gorge, central Bristol and its industrial past.

So, I've agreed to hand out some leaflets on the bridge - if only to raise awareness (if you see a Brompton rider waving at you, I'm not begging!). There will be another public meeting in early September, afaik.

Sorry - corrected link: http://stopbrt2.org.uk/how-contact-your-mp-and-local-enterprise-partnership

The next meeting's this Monday, 7.30 at the Hen and Chicken:

http://stopbrt2.org.uk/stopbrt2-next-meeting-730pm-monday-3-september-hen-and-chicken-ph

Yes, cycle/pedestrian access will be maintained, but I think it will be a sad day when/if it happens

This is the important bit - there are no plans to remove cycling access over the bridge or along the chocolate path. I have mixed feelings on the scheme, but to oppose it because you might have to share a bridge (which was built to carry trains and cars) doesn't seem like the best of reasons.

Ah, the "dog in the manger" argument.

They are talking about physically rolling back some of the few proper infrastructure improvements that have been made over the past few years, like the cycle lane on Bristol Bridge. None of these facilities are particularly adequate in the first place (name me one cycle path around Bristol that's too wide!)

The estimates of passenger numbers are tiny compared to the number of people who could potentially cycle from the same area.

The plans initially showed cycle facilities which were then "value engineered" out.

This is a good illustration of what a foregone conclusion the West of England Partnership think the whole Bus Rapid Transit thing will be - they've already started building the car parks:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-19368355

They are talking about physically rolling back some of the few proper infrastructure improvements that have been made over the past few years, like the cycle lane on Bristol Bridge. None of these facilities are particularly adequate in the first place (name me one cycle path around Bristol that's too wide!)

Do you have details? What are they removing? As a general point, I'd not be too sorry to see quite a few cycle lanes taken out, as they are worse than useless.

The example given was the Ashton Avenue bridge - I've seen nothing to worry me about it, and I use it most days.

Funny that there's so much mention of cycle facilities eh?
Not that we're biased or owt.
Money would be better spent improving the traffic into Bristol from the ring road at Brislington. Or along the Cumberland basin.

They are being deliberately sketchy about the details of the work at present, but there are a few examples on the Stop BRT2 site.

Ashton Avenue Bridge is part of the "guided" route. I don't know if you've seen examples but they don't look like it'd be easy for cyclists and pedestrians to cross them:

[img] [/img]

So if you were using the bridge and you didn't want to go all the way round the back of the Create centre, you'd be out of luck. Same if you normally use Prince Street Bridge. Now it may be that they're going to put in crossing points to improve permeability, but there are no details whatsoever of this. It sounds like it's going to narrow the width of a lot of cycle routes and chop others in half.

So what is happening to the chocolate path?

I'm also a very occasional driver in Bristol city centre and from that point of view it looks like it's only goign to make things worse. It's enough of a one-way-tastic headf--k as it is.

The predicted reduction in traffic of 0.2%, when they're spending the best part of £50 million, ought to get the Taxpayers Alliance types frothing but they're probably just saving their ire for the next round of cycle facilities (if it ever comes).

From Long Ashton, the route is going to run over Ashton Avenue Bridge (by the Create centre) then turn right onto the old railway line (the one which the steam trains currently use during summer). Then it'll go along the Harbourside, behind M:Shed, which if it keeps the cycle path at all will reduce it to a couple of metres.

The Chocolate Path is going to have buses running along side it every few minutes instead of the current mostly disused railway track.

It's unclear how the connections between the Chocolate Path, the Pill Path and the Festival Way are going to be affected but I'm guessing they won't be improved.

It's been shit idea after shit idea. The ringroad was supposed to be the answer to our prayers. All it did was funnel people into the centre by 2 heavily congested routes (A4 and M32). I work outside bristol now, it takes me less time to drive the 30 miles to work than it did to get into the centre on the bus (7 miles, over an hour) or driving. Cycling would be OK....until you got smashed around the head in Easton and someone nicks your bike.

It's been shit idea after shit idea.

I agree that the proposal is a very expensive way of saving a small amount of traffic. But the fact is that there are too many cars wanting to get in/ out of Bristol, and a lack of will to do anything radical.

Taking space away from bikes and pedestrians isn't radical. It's been happening for years.

We've recently approved city-wide 20 mph limits despite some shrieking from the comments section of the Evening Post, that's a move in the right direction. The proposed metro rail system looks good too.

There's just no need for so many people to work in the centre. Offices could easily be out of town.

There's just no need for so many people to work in the centre. Offices could easily be out of town.

= further away from where people live = more people driving.

Taking space away from bikes and pedestrians isn't radical. It's been happening for years.

I know. That was my point!

= further away from where people live = more people driving.

If it is free to park in out of town office areas then car will always be king - the buses are way more expensive than driving for all but the tiniest of minorities.

Sadly I fall into the category of NEED to use my car to go in and out of Bristol as I always have equipment with me for work and will be visiting multiple sites from the Uni, Filton and out to Emersons Green. I also have to bring the dog with me at times. Fortunately, as I also own a flat in Bristol I have a permit so can park easily when I get into the University area but getting in and around Bristol is a nightmare and they have definitely made things worse with the 'improvements'.

But there is a lot of people who just go in for office type jobs that would surely be better off using s park and ride system. I remember the sustrans guy giving talks at Uni many years ago. Sadly his ideas fell by the wayside for various reasons but something like that would be ideal.

There's just no need for so many people to work in the centre. Offices could easily be out of town.

If people are not using the existing good bus routes into the city centre, how on earth are you going to put in new and equally good bus routes to somewhere on the edge of town? Have you seen what it is like now around Filton? Moving offices away from the existing transport hub is not an answer.

If people are not using the existing good bus routes into the city centre, how on earth are you going to put in new and equally good bus routes to somewhere on the edge of town

Moving offices away from the existing transport hub is not an answer.

What is, more cycle lanes? 😆

I blame First Group for everything. Even the mud in Leigh Woods. It's all their fault.

What good bus routes? Why would you use them anyway; they're still more expensive than driving.

Driving? Perhaps. Driving and parking? The £4 all day ticket on the bus is a lot cheaper than driving and parking in Bristol for a days work.

The answer is complex, but involves supporting flexible working (hours and location), improving mass public transit and making the alternatives to driving at least two of the 'quicker, cheaper, easier' list.

Putting a 2nd bridge across the gorge and turning Ashton Court into a business park would be a good way of moving those terrible business out of the city centre.

The next meeting's this Monday, 7.30 at the Hen and Chicken:

Thanks for the headsup, will [s]turn up driving a humvee[/s] wander down.

Ah, thanks MrA - I was going to bump this thread, but you got there first. I'll be at the meeting, provided I can get out of work on time.

but to oppose it because you might have to share a bridge (which was built to carry trains and cars) doesn't seem like the best of reasons

I'm not disputing its history, but things change. Whatever the past use, that bridge is now a major non-vehicular access route for those of us living in the Ashton Rd area. And at risk of being branded a NIMBY, I have no desire to see buses routed through there - especially in service of such an expensive, poorly-designed scheme.

[i]I blame First Group for everything[/i]

It's all been downhill since the demise of Badgerline. Actually, 'Badgerline' would be a good name for a trail.

THE Badger Line 😆

I'm not disputing its history, but things change. Whatever the past use, that bridge is now a major non-vehicular access route for those of us living in the Ashton Rd area.

And you still will be able to use it. Describing it as "major" is a stretch, too! I go that way to work quite often, and it's very quiet compared to some other cycle/ pedestrian routes into town.

As an aside, I know that the BRT has been evaluated using the DfT criteria, and has found to be compliant with their cost: benefit requirements. Yet £50 million for a scheme that will carry such a small number of people seems like a great deal of money.

THE Badger Line

As ridden by snuffling nocturnal MAMILs.

Describing it as "major" is a stretch, too!

It sees a fair amount of traffic - esp on match days, etc. It's also a reasonably pleasant means of getting into the city on foot/bike. The scheme has minimal benefits for local residents - many of whom, IME, are entirely unaware of what the council is planning.

you still will be able to use it

But will anyone want to?

It's not a bustling commuter route but it's busy every evening with people riding and running out to Ashton Court and the Pill Path.

Same with the steam trains; obviously no-one goes to work on them but if they disappear it'll suck a bit more of the life out of the Harbourside.

If the only reason anyone used cycle routes was getting to and from places efficiently they would be deserted. But it's not.

I blame First Group for everything.

First Bus are actually the reason I started cycling in Bristol. Anything to avoid having to use them...

It's not a bustling commuter route but it's busy every evening with people riding and running out to Ashton Court and the Pill Path.

It isn't busy at those times - compare and contrast with Gaol Ferry bridge.

Do you really think people will not run or cycle along the river path because of a bus on a small bridge?

The scheme has minimal benefits for local residents - many of whom, IME, are entirely unaware of what the council is planning.

I tend to agree. I'm also not sure why they're replacing a perfectly good Park & Ride.

But will anyone want to?

Exactly.

Bristol wants to be known for its green credentials, for the illusion of space in a busy city - and plenty of people I speak to say that they like the city because it feels more open, less locked into a grid. Optimising every route you could squeeze a bus along is the perfect way to spoil the place. BRT2 & BRT3 are being put forward because they are going to make lots of money for some people - they won't have much effect on peoples' daily commute. But they will spoil a historic green route into the centre of the city.

I know the 'it'll spoil something nice' argument isn't the official anti-BRT line. It's not a simple case of NIMBYism though, and it goes further than the arguments against wasting the work put in under the Cycling City banner. Those in charge of transport policy in the city have proven time and again that they haven't a clue what they're doing.

compare and contrast with Gaol Ferry bridge

Apples and oranges - that's a really popular commuter route, Ashton Avenue seems to be more leisure users. Not that either of us have stood next to it and counted the user numbers, mind.

Do you really think people will not run or cycle along the river path because of a bus on a small bridge?

Yes, if it means more noise, more fumes, more user conflict (due to a narrowed carriageway), run-ins with service vehicles and a more convoluted journey. Not wanting to sound aggro, but your comments on here and the recent Sustrans path thread indicate that you haven't got the foggiest idea why people choose to use traffic-free cycle paths.

We're getting a bit hung up on the Chocolate Path and Ashton Avenue but this will certainly affect major commuter routes like Prince Street and Bristol Bridge too.

I'm also not sure why they're replacing a perfectly good Park & Ride.

Two reasons: the planned expansion of Long Ashton, and the need to be seen to be doing [i]something[/i] about Bristol's horrible traffic, even if it turns out to be ineffectual.

Do you really think people will not run or cycle along the river path because of a bus on a small bridge?

No, of course not, but the crucial link across the river will become irrepairably reduced, possibly to the point where it is effectively unusable.

It isn't a big bridge, I doubt there is room for busses/guided tramways and non-motorised traffic side by side. So what we'll get is a u-turn on any assurances of continued access, or some hopeless traffic-light scheme. All, I'm sure, badly handled by Bristol City Council, renowned for awful project management and craven capitulation to the demands of any and every commerical operator. [i]See[/i] FirstBus.

This is [i]the only[/i] traffic-free route into the city from the south west. The scheme, quite apart from the bridge issue, is poorly conceived, expensive, and threatens to wreck a whole lot of good stuff.

This is speaking as someone who lives in Long Ashton, and would quite like to be able to get the 4 miles into the City Centre in [u]under an hour[/u] during rush hour. Luckily for me, I'm able bodied and can ride a bike.

I'm also not sure why they're replacing a perfectly good Park & Ride.

If they put a bit of thought into the Park & Ride scheme, it would be much better. Only that is less exciting and makes less profits for all involved. It could also impinge on road space, which would elicit howls of protest, and require some political courage.

if it means more noise, more fumes, more user conflict (due to a narrowed carriageway), run-ins with service vehicles and a more convoluted journey

Exactly. If it was in the cause of a genuinely radical transport plan, I'd take the knock. As things stand, it's a badly-planned scheme of dubious benefit - hefty expenditure and minimal (if any) savings on existing journey times. And as for Prince Street bridge...

As both a cyclist and a car user, I absolutely despair at what they have done to Prince Street bridge.

They're doing it all over the city. Its like they have a committee specifically tasked with dreaming up ways to make life worse, and preferably more dangerous, for all road users.