Protest over Bristol transport plans
Campaigners for a tram service in Bristol staged a demonstration at the end of Prince Street Bridge today.
The Transport for Greater Bristol Alliance is against plans for a high-speed bus system between central Bristol and the Long Ashton park-and-ride site.
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Protest over Bristol transport plans
The Alliance - which represents 26 different organisations, with a total of more than 2,000 members - wants the idea dropped by the West of England Partnership of local councils later this month.
“We want a tram instead. It would be cleaner, it would fit in better with the environment and it would be more popular,” said Alliance spokeswoman Pip Sheard.
The proposed bus rapid-transport route might involve a new bridge running parallel to Prince St Bridge, say the campaigners.
They want to route the tram across the existing bridge.
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by Steve P, Bristol
Thursday, October 09 2008, 1:34PM
“Guided, showcase, bendy, rapid transit. It doesn't really matter what they're called--they're all BUSES! Buses are for the young, the old and especially the poor. That's why it's difficult to get people to use them. If more buses were the sustainable answer to Bristol's transport problems First Group would just get on and run them, wouldn't they?”
by Colin, Bristol
Thursday, October 09 2008, 7:29AM
“400 billion pounds of OUR money has been handed to the banks,half of this money could have been spent years ago to completely revolutionize Britains (not just Bristols)Public Transport System, or the whole sum spent on ridding us of 90% of car use by making all forms of Public Land Transport free of charge.At least all of us would have benefited from this investment,where there's a will there's a way.”
by Jeremy Hill, Bristol
Wednesday, October 08 2008, 9:22PM
“Having just spent a week in Europe and seen the tram systems in Zagreb, Munich, Dresden, I noticed they all have one thing in common. One thing we don't have in Bristol. Wide roads to run on - wide enough for the trams and the cars to run side by side. In Bristol we will have to accept more congestion for cars to make space for the trams, if they are not going to get stuck in traffic. That could be a problem. Whatever tram system/transport Bristol has in the future, in needs to be made for Bristol.”
by Martin, k
Wednesday, October 08 2008, 7:43PM
“The Zurich tram system is ancient as well.Not the same.
Bristol, being I guess a modern go ahead city at the time, trashed its tram system years ago.
With the way we view public transport systems here at the moment even if one is built from scratch- a big if- it will be expensive, and therefore underused.”
by Martin, Knowle,Bristol
Wednesday, October 08 2008, 7:26PM
“A lot of Melbourne's tram system is original.Late 19th century. They kept some of it. Some trams are old as well. Cute. The roads are wide in Melbourne. Not the same as Bristol. Not relevant.”