Bristol bridge car ban
A controversial scheme to ban traffic coming into Bristol along Prince Street bridge on one side in order to make way for cyclists and pedestrians is to go ahead.
The plan, which was met with a mixed reaction by people in the city, would see one lane of the swing bridge over Bristol's Floating Harbour permanently closed to cars by the end of the year.
And it could also be used as part of a dedicated fast bus route running through the city centre.
Traffic lights will be set up at either end of the bridge to restrict the flow of cars and buses across the docks.
The current in-bound lane will be closed permanently to cars, leaving it exclusively for the use of cyclists and pedestrians.
Bristol City Council is now drawing up the legal notices which will see the £40,000 scheme up and running by the start of 2009.
The closure order is only an experimental order which could be changed in future, but city council transport leader Mark Bradshaw said he expected it to be permanent, at least until another bridge was built across the Floating Harbour.
Councillor Richard Eddy, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, said last night: "It's a hare-brained proposal which will only further help to clog the city's transport arteries.
"Traffic is already moving at a slower rate than in any other UK city and it seems the city council is determined to bring it to a complete stop."
Mr Bradshaw said: "This is unfinished business. Successive administrations have looked at Prince Street bridge – it's a major route which is becoming increasingly popular but the width of the pavement is extremely narrow and it's not safe.
"We need to maintain this route as a point of road access, at least until there is another way of crossing the harbour."
The plan was first raised in June 2006, as part of a £4 million traffic management plan. It provoked a storm of protest back then, including a 500-strong petition from motorists who wanted to keep it open in both directions.
Plans to close the bridge at the weekends were also put forward in August last year, leading to more protests and strong arguments from both sides.
Figures released by the city council claim that 5,000 pedestrians, 1,300 cyclists and 6,000 motorists use the bridge between 8am and 8pm on an average day.
But in 2006 council traffic studies showed there were about 1,100, pedestrians and just under 800 cars crossing the bridge every day.
The scheme will now be funded from the successful £22.8 million Cycling City bid which aims to double the number of cyclists in Bristol in the next two-and-a-half years. The Cycling City grant is public money with half coming from the Government and the rest from the city council and South Gloucestershire Council. The bridge has also been earmarked for the city's first rapid transit bus route from Ashton Vale to the city centre, due to be complete by 2013.
Mr Bradshaw said alternatives for the bridge had been looked at, such as complete closure to traffic or closing it one-way during rush hour. But he said he was convinced that the measure was the right thing to do.
63 Comments
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by Lee, Spike Island
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 3:28PM
“This is part of a wider plan: *Outbound side of bridge is widened to take buses, losing pavement.
*Inbound side becomes pedestrian / cycle to replace lost pavement.
*Dedicated bus route created over railway track to Long Ashton Park & Ride.
*Spike Island becomes pay & display car park.
*City cycle project pays half the bridge bill.
If it persuaded people commuting into the city to use the Park & Ride, I'd be in favour, but I suspect the buses will be empty and people will just add 15mins to their daily crawl.”
by Howard, Somerset
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 7:29PM
“Chris the tradesman: For the umpteenth time - highway maintenance is the responsibility of the local councils. Councils are funded, at least in part, by council tax; the rest comes from general taxation. So everyone pays for the roads. If you resent paying "road tax" so much then why don't you go and buy a very low emission car, or a very old one. Both types pay the same as a bicycle. Nothing. Perhaps you'd advocate "road tax" for pedestrians. Pavements are part of the highways too, you know. Insurance. If cyclists were half as a hazard as the purveyors of misinformation would like us believe compulsory insurance would have been imposed long ago. Likewise pedestrians - hitting a pedestrian damage your car, you know, and you can't claim of the pedestrian's insurance.
Big Vern: It's almost impossible to walk or cycle on the pavements round where I live because they're mostly blocked by parked cars. But I suppose you think that's ok 'cos they pay "road tax".
By the way my little bunch of misinformation peddlers: there's not such thing as "road tax". It was abolished in 1936. What we pay is "Car Tax" and it no more pays directly for the highways than the VAT on a chocolate bar.”
by Big Vern, BS1
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 5:23PM
“Cant think of any pavements either Alex, but they use those...”
by Alex, Bristol
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 5:03PM
“"With all this upheaval on are roads to cater for cyclist"
what upheaval. I cannot think of one road in Bristol where there are sufficient provisions for the safety and ease of passage specifically for cyclists.”
by Chris : a tradesman, Congresbury
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 4:16PM
“I am sick to death with all these cycle people who jump red lights, most have NO INSURANCE and I think should pay a small amount of road tax. With all this upheaval on are roads to cater for cyclist, they should pay somthing. I am a tradesman I do need my vehicle to do my job, I cannot do it on a push bike. So please lets ge real about all of this.”
by Howard, Somerset
Sunday, October 26 2008, 7:51PM
“Dear Mr Car Driver, Work In The Centre:
Perhaps more time should be spent on looking at the safety issues like car drivers constantly killing and maiming people (typically 8 dead and 130 maimed each day in UK alone) before giving into the pro motorist brigade.
Shut the bridge to motorized traffic and keep one side for bikes and the other for pedestrians. It's the only safe and civilized way to do it.”
by george, brislington
Sunday, October 26 2008, 7:21PM
“Shame the council didnt lose more than £8 million in Iceland, could of meant they couldnt waste more of our tax on bringing Bristol to a standstill.”
by Dru, North Bristol
Sunday, October 26 2008, 7:15PM
“I would welcome the bridge being closed entirely to motor vehicles. It's blooming dangerous as it is.
Why has Bristol been given Cycle City status? -there's no evidence I've seen so far to show that they're doing anything to promote cycling. And, while I have seen cyclists on pavements, it's a moot point whether they're outnumbered by the cars parked on them, whose owners seem to think that parking more on the pavement than off it means they can ignore double yellow lines. Duh.”
by Alex, Bristol
Sunday, October 26 2008, 9:57AM
“Car driver, your comments are so ill-thought out it's laughable.”
by car driver, work in the centre
Saturday, October 25 2008, 7:49PM
“Another nail in the coffin for the motorist. Why?
When will they learn?
The only item missing from the script is the council forgot to mention they will widen the bridge pavement for the cyclist to ride on .
Perhaps more time should be spent on looking at the safety issues like riding bikes with no lights, cyclist constantly jumping red lights before giving into the anti motorist brigade”