The Bristol Evening Post recently reported on plans by Bristol City Council to turn the Bristol - Bath cycle path in to a bus route.
This path is the most used in the country, with over 2.4 million journys being made per year - many of which would probably be made by car if the path was not there.
I don’t live especially close to the path, but even for me, it’s a great way to get in to Bristol by bike (via Bath and the Kennet & Avon Canal). If I commuted in to Bristol, it would be essential.
The plans do state that the cycle path would continue to exist along side the bus lane, but it’s already too narrow in places, becoming congested with bikes at peak times, narrowing it further just wouldn’t work.
There is also the issue of once you allow buses, it’s very easy to allow taxis… and then motorbikes… and then local residents in cars… and then cars in general. And then it’s just a road 
I’m all for better public transport, but there’s plenty of road space to use for bus lanes, without the need to displace such a popular cycle route.
1 response so far ↓
1 JulieAnn // Mar 3, 2008 at 12:07 pm
If you want to sign the petition
‘We, the undersigned, petition Bristol City Council to reject plans to install a rapid transit bus route along any section of the Bristol to Bath Railway Path “Greenway” and wildlife corridor. The Bristol to Bath Railway Path is the most popular route in the UK on the National Cycle Network with 2.4 million sustainable journeys in the last year.’
the link http://www.railwaypath.org/petition
will take you there
OK to sign it wherever you live, but including postcode is especially useful if you are in the Bristol/SouthGlos/Bath area
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