Picture this: it's a glorious Sunday morning, you are feeling energised and suggest to your kids/partner/friend that it would be the perfect day for a bike ride along the charming Bristol and Bath cycle lane. But wait. Have you not heard? Those eco-minded people at Bristol City Council hope to scupper your plans for a leisurely bike ride by building a hoofing great Bus Rapid Transit route on part of it under the thinly veiled guise of easing traffic congestion.
If you have never been, the path is a 13 mile route connecting the two cities and is a hub of activity, from walkers and kids playing to cyclists and nature lovers.
According to the council the new "high quality, low emission vehicles" would run on a specially build road alongside the cycle track, which would widened and improved as part of the scheme.
Councillor Mark Bradshaw, Bristol City Council's Executive Member for Access and Environment has said that something needs to be done to ease the traffic problem. Hmmm, has anyone at the council heard of the Showcase Bus Route?
Ok so that may not be the best example, but as loathed as I am to say it, I can see a marginal difference in the amount of time it takes me to get to work of a morning. However, I have another suggestion: Why not introduce a congestion charge as in London? I was down on a course recently and the taxi driver said that it's just part of the fabric of the place now, you see, we humans can get used to anything, that's why we have stayed around for so long.
Another thought was bringing back the old tram system. They have recently done this in Dublin and, again, it appears to be a success. Now, I must admit, I am not a frequent user of the B2B Cycle track and it is very easy for those who like the 'idea' of such a path to get on their high horses and say it's a bad thing, but maybe it will highlight the fact that we have such a pleasent space and get out there and USE IT!!! I know I'll be dusting off the old penny farthing, digging out me calipers and getting bikey with it.
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