Council leader backs campaign to switch of Bristol's traffic lights
Switching off traffic lights in Bristol has come one step closer after the city council leader gave her backing to the idea.
Councillor Barbara Janke has welcomed the Bristol Evening Post campaign to cut down on the number of lights in the area, and praised European cities that have done exactly that.
Mrs Janke is joined by other party leaders in the city in backing the Put That Light Out campaign, including Conservative Richard Eddy.
The campaign was only launched last week but already has the support of the Government minister for transport Chris Mole, the head of transport at the city council Jon Rogers and local MPs.
Mrs Janke (Liberal Democrat, Clifton) has now made it clear that removing lights is a real possibility.
She said: "Bristol is rapidly developing as a major European city. But traffic congestion remains a real problem, not least for our economy.
"There are, though, some really exciting examples among our continental counterparts of what we could consider doing here.
"City centre squares without traffic lights altogether, for instance. We could experiment with this sort of idea.
"So I welcome the Evening Post's campaign. We want to know what residents and businesses think.
"Officers are already working on this issue because none of us wants lights where they are not necessary."
Mr Eddy said the campaign has the full backing of Bristol Conservatives.
The councillor for Bishopsworth said: "It is about time that the council took action to combat congestion rather than just carping on about the car."
Labour leader Helen Holland also backed the campaign.
She said: "We welcome any ideas that improve accessibility and managing road space, especially on major routes into the city centre, where capacity can be really squeezed.
"Road accidents are higher in Bristol than they should be, and getting these figures down is a priority, but this does not always have to mean installing lights, and other complementary safety measures, like 20mph zones in residential areas, need to be investigated."
We want to know what you think. If you could remove one set of traffic lights in Bristol, which would it be?
To submit your suggestions, send an email, call 0117 934 3330 or write to Bristol Evening Post, Temple Way, Bristol, BS99 7HD.
7 Comments
by David J, Crewkerne Somerset
Thursday, October 22 2009, 9:17PM
“Although Bristol born and bred,and now living in a less congested area in retirement,I think the removal of ALL traffic lights in the City will be a good idea,for one simple reason. It will immediately place TOTAL responsibility on the driver for their own, as well as others safety and in so doing instil a need for "self discipline". a feature sadly lacking in society today!”
by derek, Not in Briz
Thursday, October 22 2009, 6:07PM
“Second try.Switch OF Bristol traffic lights?”
by Sylvia, Bristol
Thursday, October 22 2009, 3:39PM
“Switching off traffic lights would also have the added benefit of cutting down on pedestrian congestion on the pavements because they will all be either lying under the wheels of a car somewhere or sitting inside too terrified to go out and attempt to cross the road.”
by TINA, Hengrove
Thursday, October 22 2009, 3:33PM
“Why bother installing lights at the hartcliffe roundabout ? what a complete waste of money! For years when "Imperial tobacco" was situated there and half of the population of South Bristol worked there we all managed to drive around without traffic lights.”
by Lord Clifton, Clifton
Thursday, October 22 2009, 3:04PM
“The lights at the junction of Victoria street and Counterslip were out during maintenance works at Xmas 2007. The result? Free flowing traffic with cars slowing down appropriately and courteously at the junction. Of course they were switched back on when the works were completed and normal logjam returned. Genius.
And turning out one set of traffic lights is of course one less set for cyclists to sail through on red.”
by Dave, Bristol
Thursday, October 22 2009, 11:21AM
“Great idea, may I suggest switching off the following traffic lights:
Junction of West Town Lane and the Bath road
York Road and Bath Bridge
Bedminster Bridge (s) ¿ all lights
Cannon St and East St Bedminster
Portway and Bridge Valley Road
Can we please start with these as the accidents and chaos which will ensue will mean very good business for the insurance companies and lawyers. An absolutely brilliant idea why was this not thought of earlier. Of course the health and safety implications of turning off traffic lights may cause a minor delay with the implementation but there again any council who can actively support ¿community pianos¿ cannot be all bad, can they?.”
by Paul, Bristol
Thursday, October 22 2009, 10:39AM
“I'm hoping that the next article I read about this topic is actually about some lights being turned off on a round-a-bout, rather than another person coming out in support.
It's fairly clear the vast majority of Bristol (but not all) support this idea so 'flick the swtich' and turn them off!”