Cycle Track Could Become Bus Route
I like the fact that some muppet from mangotsfield was saying in the evening post tonight about how it would be good to see the line back to its original use(obviously confused the maroon warships with buses!!),also he mentioned that as he uses the cycleway a lot the line was not touched by development-anyone noticed the houses on the trackbed by Rose Green rd and the cut back enbankment by Greenbank cemetary-he obviously hasn't!!
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BristleGWR
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Bristol Evening Post 6th February 2008
HANDS OFF OUR CYCLE PATH!
Hundreds crowded into a Bristol community centre to protest against plans to turn part of a cycle path into a bus route - with more turned away when it became too full.Organisers of last night's event had switched the venue to Easton Community Centre when they realised so many users of the Bristol to Bath track planned to turn up.
But as the meeting was about to start, the doors of the building in Kilburn Street had to be locked to stop any more people getting in.
Some of those left outside spent the rest of the evening with their faces pressed up against windows to try to listen.
An estimated 250 packed the room where the meeting, called by action group Save the Railway Path, was held, with about a further 100 in the centre lobby.
A 12-point plan was drawn up as a result of the meeting, with a range of measures proposed as part of the campaign.
They include lobbying councillors and the West of England Partnership (WEP), which represents the four councils in the former Avon area - Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset.
A new website will be set up, leaflets distributed to areas not yet involved in the campaign and events held to show the popularity of the path.
There were suggestions at the meeting for direct action including driving a bus onto the path to show just how narrow it is in places.
And there were calls to get schoolchildren and people from ethnic minorities who use the path more involved in the campaign.
Organiser Steve Meek opened the meeting by saying: "This number of people have come because they feel passionately about the threat to the cycle path and the wildlife corridor.
"There's been a tremendous groundswell of support for this.
"Our website crashed because of the number of people trying to access the freedom of information documents we obtained.
Fellow organiser Steve Loughran said: "One per cent of Bristol has signed our petition.
"There are thousands of houses being built on the fringes of Bristol and all those people are going to want to get to work and unless something is done, they are going to be driving.
"The bus route will carry six buses an hour. If you say that's 60 per bus not even close to the number of cyclists and pedestrians currently using it.
"It will also be used mainly by commuters, so the busses will be empty going back."
Sustrans founder John Grimshaw said: "The most important thing is to impress on councillors that there is a groundswell against the plan.
"I don't think central Government will give funds to a city council unless it can be shown there is some measure of public support.
"We should make sure that the director and consultants are invited to cycle with us on the path so they can see how this path is actually used. To be sure they have not done it. They've sent some junior out instead."
A child called out: "Make them cycle down the Fishponds Road at 7.30am," and won a warm round of applause.
One man said: "Creating a bus route may get some cars off the road, but the space that creates will just be taken up by more cars."
But David Redgewell, regional coordinator for watchdog Transport 2000 and a member of the WEP, defended the bus route proposal.
He said: "The WEP has been working on this project since the beginning of last year.
"We've been looking at all the old railway lines around Bristol because the Government had asked us to look at the former light rail lines to see if they could be converted to guided transit routes.
"These aren't buses you'd see going up and down the Fishponds road. They are a cross between a tram and a bus."
Several people poured scorn on the artist's impression of the proposed path, saying there was no way it could be made to fit and could be dangerous having walkers and cyclists so close to busses.
Resident Max Barton, of Fishponds, said he lived near the path and in just 45 minutes that morning had counted more than 30 cyclists using the slip road near his home to get on to the path.
Pip Sheard, of the Greater Bristol Transport Alliance, said: "The path is a fabulous example of green sustainable transport - a transport success story."
Hundreds of postcards were passed round the meeting for people to send to their local councillors and scores of people queued to give their contact details and join the campaign group.
The meeting was told that a protest petition which has been running for just a couple of weeks has already been signed by more than 6,000 people.
Afterwards, Mr Meek said: "We've had an amazing turn-out. What we now have to do is harness all that energy and empower people to take this forward."
HANDS OFF OUR CYCLE PATH!
Hundreds crowded into a Bristol community centre to protest against plans to turn part of a cycle path into a bus route - with more turned away when it became too full.Organisers of last night's event had switched the venue to Easton Community Centre when they realised so many users of the Bristol to Bath track planned to turn up.
But as the meeting was about to start, the doors of the building in Kilburn Street had to be locked to stop any more people getting in.
Some of those left outside spent the rest of the evening with their faces pressed up against windows to try to listen.
An estimated 250 packed the room where the meeting, called by action group Save the Railway Path, was held, with about a further 100 in the centre lobby.
A 12-point plan was drawn up as a result of the meeting, with a range of measures proposed as part of the campaign.
They include lobbying councillors and the West of England Partnership (WEP), which represents the four councils in the former Avon area - Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset.
A new website will be set up, leaflets distributed to areas not yet involved in the campaign and events held to show the popularity of the path.
There were suggestions at the meeting for direct action including driving a bus onto the path to show just how narrow it is in places.
And there were calls to get schoolchildren and people from ethnic minorities who use the path more involved in the campaign.
Organiser Steve Meek opened the meeting by saying: "This number of people have come because they feel passionately about the threat to the cycle path and the wildlife corridor.
"There's been a tremendous groundswell of support for this.
"Our website crashed because of the number of people trying to access the freedom of information documents we obtained.
Fellow organiser Steve Loughran said: "One per cent of Bristol has signed our petition.
"There are thousands of houses being built on the fringes of Bristol and all those people are going to want to get to work and unless something is done, they are going to be driving.
"The bus route will carry six buses an hour. If you say that's 60 per bus not even close to the number of cyclists and pedestrians currently using it.
"It will also be used mainly by commuters, so the busses will be empty going back."
Sustrans founder John Grimshaw said: "The most important thing is to impress on councillors that there is a groundswell against the plan.
"I don't think central Government will give funds to a city council unless it can be shown there is some measure of public support.
"We should make sure that the director and consultants are invited to cycle with us on the path so they can see how this path is actually used. To be sure they have not done it. They've sent some junior out instead."
A child called out: "Make them cycle down the Fishponds Road at 7.30am," and won a warm round of applause.
One man said: "Creating a bus route may get some cars off the road, but the space that creates will just be taken up by more cars."
But David Redgewell, regional coordinator for watchdog Transport 2000 and a member of the WEP, defended the bus route proposal.
He said: "The WEP has been working on this project since the beginning of last year.
"We've been looking at all the old railway lines around Bristol because the Government had asked us to look at the former light rail lines to see if they could be converted to guided transit routes.
"These aren't buses you'd see going up and down the Fishponds road. They are a cross between a tram and a bus."
Several people poured scorn on the artist's impression of the proposed path, saying there was no way it could be made to fit and could be dangerous having walkers and cyclists so close to busses.
Resident Max Barton, of Fishponds, said he lived near the path and in just 45 minutes that morning had counted more than 30 cyclists using the slip road near his home to get on to the path.
Pip Sheard, of the Greater Bristol Transport Alliance, said: "The path is a fabulous example of green sustainable transport - a transport success story."
Hundreds of postcards were passed round the meeting for people to send to their local councillors and scores of people queued to give their contact details and join the campaign group.
The meeting was told that a protest petition which has been running for just a couple of weeks has already been signed by more than 6,000 people.
Afterwards, Mr Meek said: "We've had an amazing turn-out. What we now have to do is harness all that energy and empower people to take this forward."
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Portishead Prowler
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I fear it's all too late....
I really do think the council are going to press ahead with this, I now think after talking to former public sector colleagues, that the only thing that can save the cyclepath as we know it, is council incompetence.
The fact, however, remains, that they should never have lifted this track and disconnected North Bristol from the rail network in the first place....
I really do think the council are going to press ahead with this, I now think after talking to former public sector colleagues, that the only thing that can save the cyclepath as we know it, is council incompetence.
The fact, however, remains, that they should never have lifted this track and disconnected North Bristol from the rail network in the first place....
Defected from the holy goodness of Bristol to live in the rail mecca of Rogiet...
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horace
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Now if the council really want to do something radical perhaps they should try one of these
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7227807.stm
Just think Bath to Bristol in 3 minutes and 700 people each time!!
I mean the BCC dream machine might just buy into it!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7227807.stm
Just think Bath to Bristol in 3 minutes and 700 people each time!!
I mean the BCC dream machine might just buy into it!
According to the Beeb, the bus lane has been scrapped!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7320101.stm
Now they're going to nick the Bristol Harbour Railway route instead.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7320101.stm
Now they're going to nick the Bristol Harbour Railway route instead.
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horace
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I wonder how much was wasted on the investigation into the route report. Anything over 2p for a sheet of paper that had the words "wrong idea" on it was a waste of money as most people could of told the council it was ridiculous.
Now their trying for the Long Ashton route, well i just cant see a guided bus route running along side the river. Start changing that route from anything other than what it is and an investigation would be needed into the stability of the riverside section. Oh well that should well and truly kill that proposal.
It makes you wonder how much wacky backy the Bristol council tax payers are buying cause the councillors must be on something to keep coming up with these crazy ideas.
Now their trying for the Long Ashton route, well i just cant see a guided bus route running along side the river. Start changing that route from anything other than what it is and an investigation would be needed into the stability of the riverside section. Oh well that should well and truly kill that proposal.
It makes you wonder how much wacky backy the Bristol council tax payers are buying cause the councillors must be on something to keep coming up with these crazy ideas.
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Agency_Scum
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