Bristol Traffic Taliban

[minestrone]

I'm telling you, it has to be gentile.

[Dominic Connor]

The problem with Bristol...

The problem with Bristol is in fact the same as any other local council, it is the voters who put idiots in power.

The vast majority of votes in local elections are decided on national issues like unemployment, immigration, bankers, wars, etc which have absolutely nothing to do with parking enforcement, bins being emptied and local government corruption.

That means to climb the local authority greasy pole, you have to please your own local party, not the voters.

So if (as in Bristol) there is a strong Green element to local parties, that is who you must keep happy.
In some places like Tower Hamlets it is pleasing politically active Moslems, in Edinburgh it is cosying up to sexually criminal Christians, the name of the problem group may vary from place to place, but not the pattern.

I would actually be quite shocked if some of the money the council spends on enforcement didn't end up in the pockets of local officials, most people would agree with me, but still not modify their vote as a result.

Many people cannot even tell you which party is in control of their area.

Here's a test for the politically astute members of CUK, name one thing in the last two years that your council has done that you think was rather good ?
Nothing ?
Really ?

So you'll vote according to your view on the NHS or tax and keep bitching about parking.
...or not vote at all.

You deserve what you get.

[doodab]

Gloucester Road prides itself on being one of the only remaining 'independent' high streets in Britain.
The argument is that small business owners' trade will suffer due to parking restrictions forced upon their customers.

There isn't really a choice to 'adapt'...

I used to live there, and a little further down on Stokes Croft as well. I'd be surprised if they are that reliant on cars as it's a residential area with a large student population most of whom would presumably shop on foot. But I guess it's having an impact.

[zoco]

Gloucester Road prides itself on being one of the only remaining 'independent' high streets in Britain.
The argument is that small business owners trade will suffer due to parking restrictions forced upon their customers.

There isn't really a choice to 'adapt'...

I don't think independent high streets are part of the master plan, unfortunately.

[Hardgraft]

Why? Surely this is a case of adapt or die, free market at work, unsustainable businesses should be allowed to die etc

Gloucester Road prides itself on being one of the only remaining 'independent' high streets in Britain.
The argument is that small business owners' trade will suffer due to parking restrictions forced upon their customers.

There isn't really a choice to 'adapt'...

[Hardgraft]

Public transport in Bristol has always been awful.

Had my car towed on a Sunday afternoon from Bishopston Gloucester Road once. Popped into a mate's for 15 mins, rain was so bad I didn't realise my front tyre was straddling a double yellow.

Came outside to find It had been towed by a private firm...

I live near Stapleton Road station now & the Severn Beach line is great for me. Easton to Temple meads, Montpelier (Glos rd), whiteladies road all in a matter of minutes at a fair price.

[vetran]

Why? Surely this is a case of adapt or die, free market at work, unsustainable businesses should be allowed to die etc

we want to encourage small business if we can

[MicrosoftBob]

Why would you want to go to Brizzle anyway ?

[Ticktock]

A recent trip to Perth (Australia) was enlightening - all public transport in the city centre is free. You still get taxis finding business, you still get drivers, but not as many as you'd expect for a city centre.

I have no idea what the effect on taxes and other spending is like, of course.

[doodab]

The tradesmen being frozen out is bad. They need a way to keep them going.

Why? Surely this is a case of adapt or die, free market at work, unsustainable businesses should be allowed to die etc

[malvolio]

Nah, Bristol are really trying to help the motorist. For example:

• Traffic lights are uncoordinated and use stupid time cycles so you have lots of time to admire the scenery waiting for empty roads to clear
• Park and Rides close at 19:00 so you don't have to work late shifts or evenings
• Park and Rides are located at the top of the major traffic jams so you have lots of time to plan how to get from the other end to where you actually want to go.
• The Chief Constable wants to turn the Gatsos back on, despite there being no evidence that accident rates have changed since they were turned off (if anything, they've improved)
• A recent survey found 20% of city centre traffic was trying to find somewhere to park
• You can't park anywhere near the bus station: to drop someone off who's got two large suitcases, you have to use a double yellow or the taxi rank (not recommended, since Bristol taxi drivers are the world's worst)

So what's the problem?'

[vetran]

It was enlightening.

Those that transgressed were prosecuted efficiently.

If they obstructed the traffic flow they were removed quickly, if its a clearly marked clearway then don't stop!

The best they could manage as an innocent was a little old lady 'loading' her fish & chips.

So enforcement is great, bring it on.

Some of the signage was poor.

The tradesmen being frozen out is bad. They need a way to keep them going.

Agree with the carrot approach.

[zoco]

Did anyone see the C4 documentary on the Independent Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson, and his war against the car?

As an ex resident of Cotham I had particular interest in this as much of the footage focused on the perceived heavy handed traffic enforcement on the Gloucester Road. Now, I know you've got to be pretty stupid to park in a bus lane but people were ending up with their cars on the back of a transporter for the tiniest transgression. And, since the whole road is monitored by CCTV this was happening within a couple of minutes of the incident taking place. Local businesses, already on the breadline, are up in arms as people can't just pull over and pop in anymore.

What was striking about the programme, though, was that this man makes no attempt to disguise his contempt for the car and his anti car crusade is his whole raisin d'être.

So, he bans cars From the city centre one or two days a month and tells us how everyone thinks it so wonderful that they can enjoy the city without breathing in the stinking fumes belched out by those filthy cars. And are these people regular folks going about their business? Nope, the usual identikit sandalistas juggling on unicycles and such like.

Such is his singularity of mind that you felt he really did come that close to implementing a residents parking scheme - something opposed by 90% of the city and a similar percentage of the chamber. As one resident put it, they charge you £48 a year to park outside your own house but can't even guarantee you a place within 5 streets of your house.

Seriously George, if you really want people to leave their cars at home how about a bit of carrot - it's all stick with you. Why can't we have a metro or tram system? I'd love to be able to get the train to Temple Meads and hop on a tube train to Clifton but whenever I do go to Clifton I drive to avoid the God awful bus journey from the station.