FreeBus supporters at Temple Meads
A free bus service launching this Saturday in Bristol, and funded entirely by local residents, aims to provide a glimpse of what David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ should look like.
Freebus is the first group in the UK to offer community funded public transport that is free at the point of use. The project is launching further services across the city later this year and aims to develop a model for communities across the country to take control of their public transport systems.
The initial service links Temple Meads station with the city centre. Chair Jack Phillips said the group were “amazed” by the interest the project had generated.
“According to the Campaign for Better Transport, Bristol has the second worst public transport in the UK. Local residents have had enough,” he said.
“FreeBus provides a different funding model. Our large and growing membership means we can expand and start bidding for other routes.”
The service launch comes soon after a broad programme of cuts to the city’s bus network was announced. Meanwhile, nearly 80% of households in Bristol own a car, with just 13% of commuters using public transport for the journey to work. Congestion costs the city some £350 million per year, and more than 150,000 people in Bristol live in areas with air pollution higher than official guidelines.
FreeBus ran a successful trial service in December that was funded entirely by donations. While passengers are encouraged to become members of FreeBus or donate, the service is free for everyone to use.
FreeBus directors include two newly elected local councillors, keen to push public transport back to the top of the political agenda. Green councillor for Ashley ward Gus Hoyt said private bus operators in the city received nearly £5 million in public subsidy every year, and that the group believed “public services should be run for the people of Bristol, not for the profit of shareholders”. FreeBus plans to bid for Bristol City Council supported services from 2012.
Free public transport provision in Europe and North America has proven to be a powerful incentive for motorists to choose more sustainable transport modes. In the US alone, the Unlimited Access scheme affords free travel to more than a million university students and staff. On many bus routes demand has tripled as a result.
Best of luck to Freebus.
The fact that 80% of Bristol households own a car and a mere 13% of commuters use public transport to get to work is compelling evidence of the decades of failure by Bristol City Council to ensure decent public transport provision in the city, with a virtual monopoly in the hands of the untrustworthy First Group.
As things stand, Bristol's bus services are unreliable and prohibitively expensive, whilst the local rail network is woefully underused.