Editor's comment: Car free Sundays most not stop access to shops
MAYOR George Ferguson paints an idyllic picture with his vision for a car-free city centre on Sundays. He says he wants to make Sundays special again.
He cites the likes of Bordeaux and suggests streets bustling with market stalls.
He says he wants the scheme to bring people into the city centre.
And that's the key. While some hark back to the time when Sunday was truly a day of rest, in our modern society it is day of trade for many.
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Shops, restaurants and visitor attractions are among the organisations that can do good business on the seventh day.
With our economy still fragile and grasping for any sign of growth, we can ill afford to hamper business with new restraints.
Shoppers and visitors must be able to get into the city centre without obstacles put in their way.
That means drivers need access to the car parks and, ideally, decent bus and train services for those choosing to leave the car at home.
Mr Ferguson proposes to test the car-free Sunday idea in Big Green Week before going further, and this seems a sensible approach.
But if he can square the circle of car-free city centre streets with easy access for shoppers, then Sundays could truly become special.
Comments
by lolly60
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 7:18PM
“Ok in theory but needs to be tweaked a bit around the edges I think ,don't want to stop people from coming into town .”
by Tim_M
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 5:17PM
“Sounds like uninformed alarmism. Why not give it a chance first and see how it works (or not)?
It's already been stated that access to the major car parks will be maintained. I assume this would include Trenchard Car Park (right in the city centre), Queen Charlotte Street Car Park (right in the city centre), NCP Prince Street Car Park (right in the city centre), West Side car park around the corner from The Triangle (right in the city centre) and the Harbourside car parks (you've guessed it - right in the city centre).
I think people will manage to get there and park there.
Presumably some through roads like Park Street, Baldwin Street, Rupert Street/Colston Avenue, etc. could be closed though, which are easy enough to avoid if one is just passing through anyway.”
by Lone_Ranger
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 2:41PM
“Merchant Ventureres who have business interests at Cribbs Causeway must be pleased with this latest proposal from their mate the Mayor.”
by lilmizz74
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 2:33PM
“@katachua
Totally agree with you.. Maybe he needs to stop living in cuckoo land and address some of the more important transport issues first.”
by katachua
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 2:29PM
“@lilmizz74
"He might wanna have a word with first bus about their extortionate prices!"
And their appalling Sunday and New Year's Day services. May I suggest that Mr Ferguson sorts out Worst Bus before making empty gestures like this?”
by lilmizz74
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 2:25PM
“He might wanna have a word with first bus about their extortionate prices!”
by Brizz_Tony
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 1:49PM
“Most not?”