News / Transport
Liveable neighbourhood bus gates to be switched on soon
Three bus gates in Barton Hill and St George will be switched on in June.
They are the final measures to go live as part of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial, which has been beset by controversy.
Before they were finally put in place, a number of residents in Barton Hill had attempted to prevent their installation by blocking contractors before police took part in an operation in the early hours of the morning to put the infrastructure in place.
The bus gate on Marsh Lane is one of a trio within the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial area – photo: Martin Booth
When the 24-hour bus gates on Avonvale Road, Marsh Lane and Pile Marsh go live on June 2, only authorised vehicles including buses, taxis, motorcycles and emergency vehicles will be permitted to travel through them; as well as vehicles with approved exemptions.
Exemptions include for :
- residents of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood area whose vehicle has a disabled tax class
- professional carers who work in homes of people who live within the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood area
- residents of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood area who have a Blue Badge
- residents of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood area who are on a low income, who meet the eligibility criteria and need to drive to work
- parents or carers who live within the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood area who receive a personal travel budget for their child with SEND
June 2 is when the bus gates will be switched on – photo: Martin Booth
Bristol City Council deputy leader, Heather Mack, said: “There is no doubt that for many people it will be a big change.
“We hope that, in combination with the other trial measures, the bus gates will help to make the streets safer and less polluted.
“By stopping drivers from cutting through residential roads, and by encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle for shorter journeys or to use public transport, including the new number 16 bus that goes right through the trial area, local residential streets should be safer and quieter.
“I live in the area myself, and I came and listened to people across the trial area and recognised there was a risk we hadn’t responded to concerns some community members had, especially those on low incomes and Disabled people.
“As a result, we have put together a boosted range of travel offers and bus gate exemptions, and I really urge everyone who thinks they could be eligible to check the criteria and apply as soon as possible.”
The travel offers – already described in some quarters as “bribes” – include £100 of First Bus tickets that every household across the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood will receive through the post soon.
For the first six weeks that the bus gates will be operational, drivers travelling through one of them will be sent a warning letter rather than being fined.
This ‘soft enforcement’ phase will come to an end in July and the bus gates will be fully operational from Monday July 14, with a penalty charge notice of up to £70 applicable after this time.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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