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All across the Great Western territory => Buses and other ways to travel => Topic started by: grahame on July 29, 2019, 05:14:54



Title: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: grahame on July 29, 2019, 05:14:54
Some confusion online over buses and trains. PLEASE go by public transport:

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By Train:

The closest train station to the Fiesta is Bristol Temple Meads, served by our travel partner GWR. From the station you can pick up the Fiesta Shuttle Bus service operated by First Bus to get to the event site.

For further information on travelling to Bristol Temple Meads with GWR please visit https://www.gwr.com/plan-journey/stations-and-routes/trains-to-bristol

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By Bus

The First Bus Balloon Shuttle bus service is operated by First Bus, from Temple Meads Train Station and the City Centre – Metrobus Stop C2, Colston Avenue to the Balloon Fiesta. We highly recommend local residents take advantage of this service. Tickets can be purchased on the bus with no need to pre book.

or go under your own power

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By Bicycle:

Those wishing to cycle can take ‘Festival Way’ a traffic-free path connecting the city to Ashton Court Estate and beyond. Starting in Bristol, you can use the National Cycling Route 33 which takes you on a traffic free path from Queens Square out of the city via Cumberland Road. Crossing the River Avon you join Kennel Lodge Road as you enter Ashton Court. There is bike parking available onsite by the Mansion House and the fallow deer park.

On Foot:

For those on foot, there are two main routes into the Fiesta site via Festival Way as detailed above or via the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Above from http://bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk/visitor-information/directions/



From First Bus: https://www.facebook.com/FirstWestofEngland/posts/2315871058497698

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Not long till Bristol International Balloon Fiesta!

We're running shuttle buses everyday from Temple Meads and the City Centre to get you to and from the fiesta site and we've got some great news for 2019...

In addition to our frequent shuttle service every day, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday we are running early morning services from 4.30am to get you to the morning ascent. Running every 20 mins until 10am, then at least every 10 minutes throughout the day.

Love mTickets? This year you can purchase your balloon shuttle ticket on the First Bus app and they are cheaper than buying from the driver or a ticket seller. Just search 'Special Events' in the Bristol area.

And last but not least, up to two children, 15 and under can travel free with each fare paying adult.

For ticket prices and more information visit www.firstgroup.com/eventbus


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: grahame on July 29, 2019, 05:54:40
Noting elsewhere - it's said that ENCTS cards are not accepted on the special buses to the Fiesta as they're a special service.  I can believe that though not verified.  I note a follow up from holders of cards asking about what normal service buses they can get to reach the fiesta.  It's understandable that card holders wanting to get there as cheaply as they can, but doesn't ""free" bus" v "paid bus" for a substantial segment of potential visitors rather distort and frustrate the overall planning, running and economics?


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: martyjon on July 29, 2019, 07:06:47
Noting elsewhere - it's said that ENCTS cards are not accepted on the special buses to the Fiesta as they're a special service.  I can believe that though not verified.  I note a follow up from holders of cards asking about what normal service buses they can get to reach the fiesta.  It's understandable that card holders wanting to get there as cheaply as they can, but doesn't ""free" bus" v "paid bus" for a substantial segment of potential visitors rather distort and frustrate the overall planning, running and economics?

True. LA's won't pay for "Eventbus" journeys. ENCTS holders can get to the Long Ashton P & R (m2) and cross the A370 to the fiesta site. Also as an alternative any "excel" service to Bower Ashton and walk, I've done it at past events. Also city service 24 to Ashton (Winterstoke Road) and walk. By train, Parson Street Station is actually nearer than Temple Meads, from Parson Street Station exit left onto Parson Street to inbound A38, left to Winterstoke Road thence right onto Winterstoke Road to Bower Ashton. The leather soles of ones footwear will likely to be deprived of a millimetre or so of thickness though as there is no taxi rank at Parson Street Station. Simple.


From First Bus website ;-

Back for another super year, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is the largest gathering of hot air balloons in Europe. New for 2019, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4.30am we are offering shuttle bus service every 20 minutes to get you to and from the morning ascent! Buses after 10am on all days will then run every few minutes throughout the day and evening to get you to the fiesta site and back again.

Tickets are just £3 single or £5 for a day ticket, with a special group ticket of £15 which allows up to five adults to travel together. We've introduced two new ticket features for 2019: up to two children (15 and under) can travel free with each fare paying adult and you can buy discounted tickets in advance of the day on the First Bus mTicket app.   

You can buy adult day and group shuttle bus tickets on the mTicket app and save money! Just download the First Bus app, click on the mTickets tab and select the Bristol area. Click on Special Events tickets and choose an adult day ticket for only £4 or group (up to 5 adults travelling together) for only £12 per day. This allows unlimited travel on the shuttle bus only for one day.

If you already have a First Day, Week, Month or Year ticket for Bristol or the West of England area you can upgrade your ticket to include the Balloon Shuttle for just £2 per person. Simply ask a Balloon Shuttle ticket seller or Balloon Shuttle Bus driver on the day of travel. 


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: chuffed on July 29, 2019, 07:11:21
Spare a thought for the residents of Pill,Portbury and Portishead who have their  Firstbus services decimated for these 4 days. They should run them down the Port way and over the Avon bridge so that we have some semblance of a service.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: martyjon on July 29, 2019, 07:59:27
Spare a thought for the residents of Pill,Portbury and Portishead who have their  Firstbus services decimated for these 4 days. They should run them down the Port way and over the Avon bridge so that we have some semblance of a service.

Don't get me going, don't be stupid, nothing on First Bus website saying the Pill. Portbury and Portishead bus services will be decimated for the 4 days. If anything its the motorists of Pill, Portbury and Portishead that should be thought of by the closing of the Suspension Bridge at intervals during the period of the fiesta but then THEY have the alternative of using the M5 Avon bridge.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: grahame on July 29, 2019, 10:54:28
Spare a thought for the residents of Pill,Portbury and Portishead who have their  Firstbus services decimated for these 4 days. They should run them down the Port way and over the Avon bridge so that we have some semblance of a service.
Don't get me going, don't be stupid, nothing on First Bus website saying the Pill. Portbury and Portishead bus services will be decimated for the 4 days. If anything its the motorists of Pill, Portbury and Portishead that should be thought of by the closing of the Suspension Bridge at intervals during the period of the fiesta but then THEY have the alternative of using the M5 Avon bridge.

Not sure I totally follow - certainly not a "stupid" question to ask about Pill, Portbury and Portishead which are behind the balloon fiesta - I would not be surprised if extra traffic past the fiesta didn't cause unusual congestion and upset the services.

P.S. I'm sure the use of "stupid" referred to the question, not the questioner, didn't it?  ;D ;D


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: chuffed on July 29, 2019, 11:47:13
Not a 'stupid' observation by any means, martyjon. You obviously haven't lived at the sharp end of the disruption to these buses for the last 10 years. I speak from personal experience. If it is the Bristol Balloon fiesta, why don't they hold it on the Downs instead of Ashton Court which is in North Somerset ? And unlike the motorists who can use the M5, the bus users do not have any alternative to the A369.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: rower40 on July 29, 2019, 15:14:47
Please ensure your balloons are fully deflated and folded to fit under your seat.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: Surrey 455 on July 29, 2019, 22:22:36
I've not been since 2013. I've been put off by
  • the lack of Red Arrows and other aerobatical* displays.
  • adverse weather
  • the official website and others not fully explaining what "Arena Entertainment" actually is


I've been 4 times and seen the Red Arrows on most of those occasions and I'd like to go back again but it's a long journey for me and I'd want to know what else there is to do on the site before 6pm. 

*Not sure if that's a real word but my spell checker is happy with it


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: JayMac on August 08, 2019, 22:38:04
In my ten years living in Brizzle I attended the Bloon Fester site four times. On each of those occasions there were no mass ascents while I were there, due to weather.

The years I didn't go to Ashton Court of course had some great mass ascents. Only viewed them from afar out at El Dub.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: johnneyw on August 08, 2019, 23:04:17
In the last few years, wind assisted off course, the mass lift offs have gone very low over my house, to the point where one nearly took the chimney off a house near me. That aside, it's a bloomin' spectacle but I hope my nearly 90 old chimney keeps it's head down next time.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: MVR S&T on August 08, 2019, 23:29:28
Think most flying will be caped, due to high forcast winds.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: johnneyw on August 08, 2019, 23:36:45
The BBC weather website says it looks better on Sunday but it's still true that it is based on an imprecise science.


Edit: Schoolboy spolling error, not unprecise but imprecise. Sory!


Title: Re: 11th to 14th August 2022- Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: chuffed on August 10, 2022, 17:51:10
Three years since this has happened....and for the residents of Pill Portbury and Portishead the additional pleasure of the buses being rammed for the first three miles in and out of the city. And no shuttle buses this year.... all for £120,00 which the fiesta committee said they didn't have  Surely they could have cancelled one of Marvin's jolly jaunts in unfamiliar climes to pay for it.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: infoman on August 11, 2022, 01:41:37
No shuttle bus's will run from Bristol Temple meads to Ashton court,although all day on wednesday our BBC kept saying Ashton Gate

SUGGEST: head for the bus station and catch any of the bus's going to

Portishead Nailsea Clevedon or Weston Super mare.

The A370 weston super mare main road could be closed at any time at very short notice

NO FIREWORK DISPLAYS will take place for the whole FOUR days

Organisers are requestin(although they might be banned) not to set up portable barbeques

and please don't bring your family pet,the dog. I have heard there will be plenty of H2O points around the sight


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: rogerw on August 11, 2022, 11:51:01
First have stated that the non-provision of shuttle buses is down to the ongoing shortage of drivers


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: grahame on August 11, 2022, 11:55:39
First have stated that the non-provision of shuttle buses is down to the ongoing shortage of drivers

Having seen copious provision of buses at the Commonwealth Games, one has to wonder why something cannot be done for the Balloon Fiesta which - I think - is a bit smaller in spectator numbers than The Games?   I guess the question is whether those-who-decide actually want to provide a service.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: bobm on August 11, 2022, 16:37:56
I think one of the issues is it has been left so late that the services could not be registered with the Traffic Commissioner and so no fares could be charged for those using the buses.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: eXPassenger on August 11, 2022, 19:05:20
I think one of the issues is it has been left so late that the services could not be registered with the Traffic Commissioner and so no fares could be charged for those using the buses.

Did the Balloon Fiesta this weekend just drop in from the sky with no notice?


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: bobm on August 11, 2022, 20:44:50
No but I think the implications of First not being able to provide the shuttle buses wasn’t fully appreciated until too late.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: TaplowGreen on August 11, 2022, 21:17:38
https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-08-11/weather-sees-first-mass-ascent-of-bristol-balloon-fiesta-cancelled


Title: Re 11th to 14th August 2022- Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: chuffed on August 12, 2022, 00:05:34
Only in Labour controlled Bristol can you have a Mayor who declares a climate emergency, flies to Canada to talk about climate change, then has a festival that burns huge amounts of gas, and has no bus service to serve the people who wish to attend. Just look back at the great organization that happened for the commonwealth games, then look at what happens, or didn't happen in Bristol. 


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: broadgage on August 12, 2022, 15:44:53
No wonder that there is a shortage of propane, it is all being used for balloons.


Title: Re: 7th to 11th August 2019 - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: broadgage on August 12, 2022, 18:39:04
I think one of the issues is it has been left so late that the services could not be registered with the Traffic Commissioner and so no fares could be charged for those using the buses.

Did the Balloon Fiesta this weekend just drop in from the sky with no notice?

Yes, a bit like Easter or bank holidays.


Title: Re: Re 11th to 14th August 2022- Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: IndustryInsider on August 12, 2022, 18:58:13
Just look back at the great organization that happened for the commonwealth games, then look at what happens, or didn't happen in Bristol. 

The general organisation was pretty good, though I wasn’t especially impressed with the 100s of diesel buses required for transport to the main stadium from central Birmingham and the Bescot Park And Ride, as well as other venues. 

The nearest station to the main stadium being an off-putting 25 minute walk away.


Title: Re: Re 11th to 14th August 2022- Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: TaplowGreen on August 12, 2022, 21:45:53
Just look back at the great organization that happened for the commonwealth games, then look at what happens, or didn't happen in Bristol. 

The general organisation was pretty good, though I wasn’t especially impressed with the 100s of diesel buses required for transport to the main stadium from central Birmingham and the Bescot Park And Ride, as well as other venues. 

The nearest station to the main stadium being an off-putting 25 minute walk away.

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-08-12/weather-sees-evening-mass-ascent-at-bristol-balloon-fiesta-cancelled


Title: Re: Re 11th to 14th August 2022- Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: Red Squirrel on August 15, 2022, 10:39:32
Only in Labour controlled Bristol can you have a Mayor who declares a climate emergency, flies to Canada to talk about climate change, then has a festival that burns huge amounts of gas, and has no bus service to serve the people who wish to attend. Just look back at the great organization that happened for the commonwealth games, then look at what happens, or didn't happen in Bristol. 

We're all guilty of climate hypocrisy from time to time, though Rees' handling of the scrutiny he received after his Canada trip has been widely condemned.

However the Balloon Fiesta is an independently organised event which takes place in North Somerset. Rees has made it fairly clear that it's not something he considers important (https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/rees-the-bridge-the-gorge-and-balloons-are-not-central-to-my-citys-identity/). Bristol's politics has very little to do with it.

The Fiesta organisers take a lot of stick every time the event takes place, usually because they've failed to arrange the right kind of weather. It's a shoestring operation, several orders of magnitude smaller that the Commonwealth games, so it really isn't fair to try to compare it.


Title: Re: Re 11th to 14th August 2022- Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Post by: TonyK on August 15, 2022, 20:59:50
We're all guilty of climate hypocrisy from time to time, though Rees' handling of the scrutiny he received after his Canada trip has been widely condemned.

However the Balloon Fiesta is an independently organised event which takes place in North Somerset. Rees has made it fairly clear that it's not something he considers important (https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/rees-the-bridge-the-gorge-and-balloons-are-not-central-to-my-citys-identity/). Bristol's politics has very little to do with it.

The Fiesta organisers take a lot of stick every time the event takes place, usually because they've failed to arrange the right kind of weather. It's a shoestring operation, several orders of magnitude smaller that the Commonwealth games, so it really isn't fair to try to compare it.

It may be in North Somerset, but isn't the estate owned by Bristol City Council?

I do indeed recall the early days, when Cameron Balloons was based in Cotham, round the corner from the grubby bedsit I inhabited in 1977-78. Curious as to what was going on in this old church or school, I stuck my head around the door, and was given an early guided tour of a single hall, a couple of sewing machines and a lot of fabric. The company followed me when I relocated to Bedminster. At the first fiesta in 1979, it was easy to chat to the balloonists, as there weren't that many. It did rather grow out of control for a while, with the infrastructure adapting just a little bit too far behind the pace, and I haven't been there since about 1995. It was always just as spectacular from the back garden, and the food was cheaper.

I was in Bristol on Sunday, and was surprised by the lightness of the traffic. I wonder if attendance was down given that the hot weather forced cancellation of the evening ascents, and the lack of buses was compounded by a lack of railway traffic on Saturday. Mayor Marvin's attitude to the event is poor - it is historic and the best known thing about Bristol in some parts of the world.


and please don't bring your family pet,the dog. I have heard there will be plenty of H2O points around the sight

I would be more worried about K9P.



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