Adding this to the diary ... email link for FOSBR members will be sent by email prior to the meeting - posting here as a "plug" for FoSBR who are, I am delighted, one of the groups embracing rather than skipping the online activities which we are somewhat limited to at the moment.   Lots of lovely stuff at https://fosbr.org.uk too.

Edit to correct year in subject line from 2020 to 2021

Or even 29 Jan 2021 

Editing subject line in this post and the first post in the thread (which gets used in titles) too.

More on the FoSBR AGM at https://fosbr.org.uk/fosbr-agm-2021/

The link will be sent out on or around the 19th Jan to members with registered email addresses.

The meeting is open to non-members - contact FoSBR at https://fosbr.org.uk/get-involved/contact-us/ to register. You can if you wish join FoSBR at https://fosbr.org.uk/get-involved/join-us/

It is good to be frank, Lee, because that's how we learn and move forward and learn. Your post helps us learn what you think about some of FoSBR's effectiveness and quality of output. It does not look complementary, not encouraging, not kind, but at least (I think) you are honest in expressing your view - either that or you are trolling / posting to provoke a reaction.

Public transport campaigning does not achieve a smooth flow of results - it provided the very occasional significant leap forwards, smaller steps from time to time, and an offputtingly common serious of things that stop progress being made, reverse it, kick things into the long grass, have other ideas and view come in as spoilers, etc.  And none of us - FoSBR, MRUG, Coffee Shop, receive any financial remuneration what so ever for what we do and so, perhaps, incur no responsibility for how far forward we move over a period of time. The responsibility for a public transport network that, perhaps, does not move forward as (arguably) it should lays with those we elect to public office, and the various experts they choose to employ.  Even there many (or most) individuals are utterly frustrated by the complex machine they find themselves in and it's a systemic issue where they could do so much more if only "the system" allowed it.

You name some excellent campaigners no longer active in the area, and I could name more from Bristol and our wider area. In doing so as you do, you appear to be telling the current team that they are not filling the role vacated by these people.  I'm going to differ from that view - we are all different and do things in different ways.  There are some very effective things being done; agreed, more could always be done - and that is always the case - to have aspirations.

Neither you nor I live in Bristol / WECA, though I travel there quite often in normal times, and am a user of there public transport network; arguably, North and West Wilts should be included as they are part of the same travel-to-work / economic area.  I payed my 2021 subscription to FoSBR a couple of days ago, look forward to their AGM and that (and their committee) is  the best place for them to consider how they're moving forward.

We stand a far better chance of achieving a transport system, and indeed a wider environment, fit for the future if we work together, discuss differences, come to appropriate conclusions than if we're onto each other's cases. I appreciate the irony that I'm onto your case, Lee, in writing this - regrettable, but we need to move on.