Monday, 28 January 2008

BRT: Bus Rapid Transit? Or Bristol's Rubbish Transport?

My fellow footsoldiers in Bristol East Green Party have been wading through the plans to transform the Bristol-Bath railway path into a bus superhighway and have come up with some searching questions for Mark Bradshaw and his merry band of unelected fools.

It seems extraordinary that in months of under-the-boardroom-table scheming, the question of where and how pedestrians might cross the bus route has not even been considered.

Interestingly enough, it seems Bristol Labour Party may not be lining up behind Mark Bradshaw to support this one. Paul Smith, Labour candidate for Bristol West, has come out against it over at the Bristol Blogger. (I am working on the assumption that no-one is sad enough to go round the Internet impersonating Paul Smith.)

The Mr. Bean lookalike is the only mainstream politician to stick his head about the parapet so far. Local residents won't be expecting a statement any time soon from absentee Labour councillor for Easton, Hotwells resident Faruk Choudhury, who might struggle to find the railway path (or his own ward) on a map. And so far, there's been a resounding silence from the Lib Dem councillors for Easton, Lawrence Hill, and Eastville.

Luckily, thanks to the efforts of the Bristol Cycling Campaign, popular resistance to this idiotic scheme is snowballing. (See the Green Party's statement here.) Over 3200 signatures in less than a week is quite something. At this rate, they won't even need a consultation.

3 comments:

The Bristol Blogger said...

All three main parties have already "stuck their heads above the parapet", they're just trying to keep quiet about it.

Sitting on the West of England Strategic Partnership and directly responsible for initiating, funding, supporting and now promoting the plan are Bristol City Councillors Helen Holland (Labour), Steve Comer (Lib Dem) and Bunter Eddy (Tory).

Our whole council has sold us out (again) and not even bothered to tell us.

Paul Smith said...

Hi

no one would want to impersonate me so it is real. I live in east Bristol and use the cyclepath myself - and want it there unspoilt for my son (now 18 months) to be able to use it when he starts cycling

Paul Smith
(Mr bean look-alike - and Labour Candidate for Bristol West)

greeengage said...

Good for you. Let's hope the other candidates - and the sitting MPs feel the same.