MetroBus

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

To try and sort out the road situation - basically Buses vs Cars - in this way could take literally decades to solve, and yet as the city expands further it could potentially always be playing catch up anyway

Buses v cars v pedestrians v cyclists, isn't it?

Planning policy can help - let people live nearer where they work, play and go to school, and they need less transport. Essentially this means building at higher density, something which cities everywhere are doing, but this, as you say, takes decades.

I don't know where Mr Freeman thinks he's going to put his bus lanes though; as far as I can see there aren't many gaps. Come to that, I don't know where Mr Rees thinks he's going to run his almost metro-like white-line-following buses. I can't see any option but to go underground, but there doesn't appear to be the will or wherewithal to do this.

No easy answers to this one.

[Bmblbzzz]

It might have occurred to the select committee that the higher than national average bus usage in Bristol is a result of having lower than average local rail options. I hope they are aware of this.

Note it's national average, not average of big cities. I suspect anywhere with a population over say 50,000 will have higher than national average bus usage, simply because so many smaller places no longer have any bus service.

[simonw]

I think Mr Freeman is indirectly hinting that we need to create Bus Lanes by introducing road charging at peak times.

[Red Squirrel]

I think Mr Freeman is indirectly hinting that we need to create Bus Lanes by introducing road charging at peak times.

I can see that road pricing could be used to fund public transport improvements - I just can't see where they'd put new bus lanes.

[Bmblbzzz]

Road pricing could be used to give buses priority but it would have to be an extremely sophisticated and sensitive system capable of making minute-by-minute lane-by-lane pricing changes. And even then it implies that the bus could share a lane with anyone willing and capable of paying. Far cheaper and easier to simply extend bus lanes, use filtered permeability and so on. An easy start would be to make the bus lanes we already have more useful for buses, by keeping them clear of parked cars (both legally and illegally parked) and eg giving the bus lane priority over the general traffic lane where the two merge, as well as making bus lanes continuous through junctions. In terms of pricing, a general congestion charge might reduce city centre traffic and speed up bus (and car and lorry, and even pedestrian) journeys, but it wouldn't be a bus priority scheme as such.

[martyjon]

I see now that you can purchase Airport Flyer tickets, singles or returns from the Metrobust I-Point ticket machines but you are now unable to purchase the West of England Zone day ticket (previously the Bristol Outer Zone day ticket which you could buy) from the same apparatus, you can buy a West of England monthly ticket at a cost of £80 though. I only want a West of England day ticket so do I say to the Metrobust driver the I-point is not working, it won't sell me the ticket I want ?

[Red Squirrel]

Road pricing could be used to give buses priority but it would have to be an extremely sophisticated and sensitive system capable of making minute-by-minute lane-by-lane pricing changes. And even then it implies that the bus could share a lane with anyone willing and capable of paying. Far cheaper and easier to simply extend bus lanes, use filtered permeability and so on. An easy start would be to make the bus lanes we already have more useful for buses, by keeping them clear of parked cars (both legally and illegally parked) and eg giving the bus lane priority over the general traffic lane where the two merge, as well as making bus lanes continuous through junctions. In terms of pricing, a general congestion charge might reduce city centre traffic and speed up bus (and car and lorry, and even pedestrian) journeys, but it wouldn't be a bus priority scheme as such.

I can see that there are places where changes like these would help, but aren't they sticking plasters for a patient who needs multiple stents?

[metalrail]

Road pricing could be used to give buses priority but it would have to be an extremely sophisticated and sensitive system capable of making minute-by-minute lane-by-lane pricing changes. And even then it implies that the bus could share a lane with anyone willing and capable of paying. Far cheaper and easier to simply extend bus lanes, use filtered permeability and so on. An easy start would be to make the bus lanes we already have more useful for buses, by keeping them clear of parked cars (both legally and illegally parked) and eg giving the bus lane priority over the general traffic lane where the two merge, as well as making bus lanes continuous through junctions. In terms of pricing, a general congestion charge might reduce city centre traffic and speed up bus (and car and lorry, and even pedestrian) journeys, but it wouldn't be a bus priority scheme as such.

I can see that there are places where changes like these would help, but aren't they sticking plasters for a patient who needs multiple stents?

My point exactly...  we can't just keep going for 'quick fixes' all the time.  The entire Greater Bristol public transport system needs a huge, complete & integrated overhaul.  And pronto, before we end up with permanent gridlock!

[Bmblbzzz]

Road pricing could be used to give buses priority but it would have to be an extremely sophisticated and sensitive system capable of making minute-by-minute lane-by-lane pricing changes. And even then it implies that the bus could share a lane with anyone willing and capable of paying. Far cheaper and easier to simply extend bus lanes, use filtered permeability and so on. An easy start would be to make the bus lanes we already have more useful for buses, by keeping them clear of parked cars (both legally and illegally parked) and eg giving the bus lane priority over the general traffic lane where the two merge, as well as making bus lanes continuous through junctions. In terms of pricing, a general congestion charge might reduce city centre traffic and speed up bus (and car and lorry, and even pedestrian) journeys, but it wouldn't be a bus priority scheme as such.

I can see that there are places where changes like these would help, but aren't they sticking plasters for a patient who needs multiple stents?

Yes of course, if you're referring to alterations to or increases in bus lanes. If you mean some form of road pricing and other measures to reduce the total amount of traffic, then they might be one of a series of stents, both for patient Bus and patient Bristol. Unfortunately I think most of those stents depend on action at national or global level.

[eXPassenger]

I see that Bristol has committed to going carbon neutral by 2030.  That will require a drastic reduction in cars and substitution of diesel engines for electric.

Looking forward to seeing the detailed (or even summary) plan and not just a council resolution.

[Red Squirrel]

Hmm; 2050 isn't it?

https://news.bristol.gov.uk/news/bristol-leaps-towards-carbon-neutrality

[eXPassenger]

The Guardian states 2030 and references the recent report requiring major change within 12 years:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/14/bristol-plans-to-become-carbon-neutral-by-2030

[Bmblbzzz]

Well the Graun never makes a mistake so I'm sure it's more correct than the council! But it's not clear from the Gr and even less clear from the council what they mean by "city". If they're just talking about things the city council is directly responsible for, then it's going to take a lot of work but it's probably doable. If they mean the city as a whole, residents, businesses and so on, it's going to need a lot of changes the council can't directly influence, like people changing energy suppliers.

[Red Squirrel]

The Guardian states 2030 and references the recent report requiring major change within 12 years:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/14/bristol-plans-to-become-carbon-neutral-by-2030

Hmm, interesting! I can find reports of the 2030 figure, but the only thing I can find on the Bristol City Council site is this, which has the 2050 date: https://www.energyservicebristol.co.uk/wp-content/pdf/City_Leap_Prospectus%204-5-18.pdf . But that dates back to May, so it sounds like things have moved on. 2050 does sound hopelessly unambitious; I plan to be thoroughly ensconced in my box by then.

[froome]

The Guardian states 2030 and references the recent report requiring major change within 12 years:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/14/bristol-plans-to-become-carbon-neutral-by-2030

It is now 2030, following this week's council vote, inspired by the recent IPCC report on the impending climate catastrophe. I look forward to seeing other south-western towns following this initiative soon.