Your ticket to give Bristol City Council your view on bus services
Bus users in Bristol are being urged to tell the city council what they think of bus services in the city.
Many of the routes have not changed for decades and others have been scrapped for commercial reasons or for lack of funding, leaving passengers feeling last in line to have a say.
Now the council is looking to work with private bus operators and neighbouring councils to make services better in Bristol.
As a first step, it has launched a citywide discussion, starting today, on its online forum called ASK Bristol to gather information about people's experiences of their bus services. Once these views have been gathered, council officials will meet with bus operators to map out a first draft of a citywide bus review.
During the year, there will be several further stages which will be explained on the forum website.
Bristol's transport leader Jon Rogers said: "I'm a great believer in early engagement and keeping people informed about fundamental issues like the Bristol's bus route review.
"We used this approach on the city centre layout debate on ASK Bristol and we're asking people once again to join the debate on ASK Bristol about Bristol's bus routes and network."
Changes to bus routes and services will not be introduced until next year at the earliest.
An interactive map is being set up so web users can comment on individual services and suggest new routes.
The website address for ASK Bristol is askbristol.wordpress.com.
13 Comments
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by derek, Nürnburg,germany 90478
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 12:46PM
“Why oh why can`t Bristol get it together?We have BENDY buses here that are always punctual (every 10 mins).They run to the City Centre & are usually full as people can depend on them.Fares cheaper by the week/month etc.A 24 hr ticket costs about 3 pounds & can be used on trams,underground,(Direct to Airport) & all bus routes.Moans re Bristol buses seems to go on for ever!”
by penny Hummerston, Bradley stoke
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 12:43PM
“I just want to say. That Iuse the 73 Cribbs Causeway to Bristol cityBus with the First bus group. I must admit the service has got better. A year or so ago you couldnt rely on the buses turning up on time at all. I now notice standing at the Mall waiting for my 73 bus. That the no 75 . A double decker turns up every 10 mins and leaves the Mall verually empty. why cant the 73 be a double decker? I have lived in Bristol since 2003 . and I have found a lot of the drivers on the no 73 to be unhelpful when asked about how to get to somewhere. or where a certain place is. Some of the drivers didnt even know the route and had to be prompted by the people on the bus! This was because they were doing overtime . And were on a route that they didnt know. (Speechless) I have found the most friendly and helpful drivers were the south Gloucester buses. The boss of the company even came and picked me up when one of his drivers didnt pick me up. I was told he got a good telling off . and didnt do it again.When iIfirst came down to Bristol . I wanted to go to Yate. I had a 30 walk from where I lived to the bus stop. When I got to the stop. I saw several buses go by me. But never any my side. I went over to the other side of the road when I saw another south Gloucester bus and asked the driver about my bus.The driver told me I was waiting on the wrong sideand said he would radio the driver of the bus I had just missed to wait for me. The driver took me all the way to that bustop. And the driver was waiting for me.Also with the same bus company i wanted to find where the MEGA bus stopped as I was going to London. The driver took me all the way round to that stop. He had gone out of his way . I thought I was in an Alternative unniverse. I lived in Harlow in Essex. And my local bus service was really bad . So it was a breath of fresh air to find a bus company who really take care of their public. It is a shame that South Glouscester buses dont get as many routes as First Buses. Because i much prefer them to First.”
by PeteM, Deletesville, USA
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 12:31PM
“You say you want opinions, but the opinions you know you'll get will all be along the lines of : Get Worstbus out! Get Worstbus to reduce their fares!! encourage competition!!
All points you consistently fail to respond to in any way whatsoever. Why will this time be any different?
I don't see the point. It's never going to change is it? let's be honest about this.
Sorry I said something banal. You can delete this now.”
by Gerry, Bristol
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 11:55AM
“Why on earth would I want to take a bus when I¿ve got a perfectly good car?
My car gets me where I want to go, when I want to go. It does so in comfort and at a reasonable cost. I can also give lifts to friends and family as well as carry heavy loads.
For short journeys I walk and sometimes cycle. For longer journeys or if I¿m transporting my children I¿ll use my car.
So, why would I ever want to take a bus?”
by JoeB1, 2-mile hile, bristol
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 11:46AM
“Heres a suggestion, get rid of those stupid clocks on bus stops that say ... due in 7 mins, etc.. I was sat on a bus stop in the freezing cold for 35mins, and the sign counted down from 7mins to zero, then the bus arrived, but it took 35mins to do it.
A great idea, but it doesn't actually work! Can you imagine what would happen if an aircraft did that? it would run out of fuel before it got to the airport!!!”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 11:03AM
“Well, Joe, that just might be because Jon's Executive Member for Bristol, NOT South Glos or BANES...”
by Joe, stuck in traffic next to an empty 2+lane...
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 10:50AM
“Cllr Dr Jon Rogers, Exec Member for Transport, I've noticed you havn't made a single comment about the top story yesterday, the removal of the worthless pointless 2+ lanes... any reason for this? Do what the people want and stop lining your own pockets with pointless 'reports'”
by Jason, Kingswood
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 10:43AM
“Cllr Roger's,sir,please give me the reason I should use the bus to travel from Kingswood To Yate,return journey by car 25 minutes,by bus including the return walk to the bus stop,and waiting for a bus to arrive at both ends,3 hours 20 minutes?”
by Margaret, Bristol
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 10:38AM
“Phil,most of us cannot afford luxurious like Bus Tickets.”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 10:13AM
“"Many of the routes have not changed for decades "
Indeed. As a result, people have planned their lives around them. They tend to, if possible, live and work on the same bus route. When routes are changed or withdrawn, this causes major inconvenience, and the last thing any commuter wants is to have to change buses. I know - I got caught when the 28 service was withdrawn.
While this is obvious to any bus user, it doesn't seem to register with most of those set in authority over us, who seem to be either motorists or cyclists. Cyclists in particular just seem to see buses as a nuisance.”