Bus companies fear traffic congestion after traffic ban on Pulteney Bridge
Bus companies are growing concerned about traffic congestion in the city centre after rerouting some services ahead of the planned pedestrianisation of Pulteney Bridge.
First Bus and the Bath Bus Company have both changed a number of routes this week as council chiefs look to ban all traffic from the historic landmark.
Managing director of Bath Bus Company Martin Curtis said although the first week had not seen too much disruption, he was concerned the situation would worsen once the universities were back and Christmas drew closer.
He said: "We are very concerned that there will be quite severe congestion and cause quite a lot of disruption and gridlock.
"I think it is likely to get much, much worse over the next few weeks and cars and buses will be stuck in traffic for a good length of time.
"Because we carry tourists, among the worries is that they sometimes have trains and coaches to catch and people will start becoming anxious."
Managing director of mainstream operator First Bristol, Somerset and Avon, Tony McNiff, said it had raised concerns with Bath and North East Somerset Council about the increase in traffic on other roads.
He said: "We continue to have concerns about how the increased traffic elsewhere in the city will managed once the bridge is closed."
Opposition Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for development and major projects Councillor Cherry Beath has expressed her concern over the closure and said there should be a review of the impact.
17 Comments
View all
by O M Nibus, On the road
Friday, September 10 2010, 4:26PM
“Martin Curtis is very 'concerned' about congestion and gridlock! Wot in Bath?Never! The city council and road planners have kept Bath roadways free flowing and with great ease. Never any traffic jams in OR around Bath. For example just watch how easy it is for the fire engines to exit their buildings and 'speed' off to a distress call! The London road is such a joy to drive along! Never a jam or gridlock in site. The flow of traffic from both the A4 and A46 merge without fuss of hindrence and it's just the same for Wellsway and Bloomfield! The famous 'Gate' is such a joy to behold along with ALL the grubby little 'Oneway' back streets!
I say that the bus companies should be using far more of the 'bendy' busses in the inner city 'clear' road system!
Bath is a great place to drive! Just ask any of the road planners!”
by Malcolm Cupis, Bridgeyate
Friday, September 10 2010, 1:56PM
“Craven hypocrisy from the bus companies I'm afraid. They are in favour of engineering restrictions into the traffic system that cause added congestion for other road users, so long as it benefits them. They are not in favour of engineering restrictions into the traffic system if it negatively effects them. We need to remember that these are private companies htat operate for profit, not public transport companies that operate to provide the best services for the man in the street.”
by Pete, Chippenham
Friday, September 10 2010, 1:51PM
“Readers should take a look at the article 'The cost of our bus fares is simply too high' elsewhere on the Chronicle website, as these two stories are connected.”
by Sulis, Bath
Friday, September 10 2010, 1:06PM
“Which was not what my comment was about. The proposed closure has been done to death on here and I wasn't going to waste anyone's time by going over old ground. The fact is that your response had nothing to do with the suggestion I made for providing an improved bus service should the closure go through.”
by Rob, Bath
Friday, September 10 2010, 12:50PM
“Not at all reluctant. It seems you didn't bother to read or understand my comment: "I know you've read all the previous comments on this subject regarding the creation of further congestion in other areas of the city, caused by the displacement of traffic from the restricted areas described."”
by Sulis, Bath
Friday, September 10 2010, 11:23AM
“You seem reluctant to explain your original claim, that rerouting an existing Bathwick service down Great Pulteney Street would create congestion and not be good for the rest of Bath. Perhaps because you either didn't bother to read or to understand my comment.”
by Rob, Bath
Friday, September 10 2010, 10:29AM
“A gold star to you for spotting my mistake Sulis. Go to the top of the pedant class.
What I should have said was - "So I'll just treat your question as either (a) rhetorical or (b) one that'll provoke an answer liable to fall on conveniently deaf ears that absorb nothing the brain disagrees with."”
by Dave, Weston
Thursday, September 09 2010, 9:31PM
“One solution which is in the bus companies hands is for them to lower fares to a level at which they start to attract people out of cars and onto buses, thereby reducing congestion. However that might temporarily eat into profits and so they'd much rather just moan about it.”
by Sulis, Bath
Thursday, September 09 2010, 8:13PM
“"So I'll just treat your question as either (a) rhetorical or (b) liable to fall on conveniently deaf ears that absorb nothing the brain disagrees with."
I can't help it if my question fell on 'conveniently deaf ears' (presumably you mean your own) but my original comment was about re-routing a bus service. You don\t explain why that would create additional congestion.
"Are you saying that Pulteney Bridge needs a bus service after all?"
After all what? I've made no comment here about Pulteney Bridge, just suggested that - should this proposal be implemented - an alternative bus service could and should be provided.”
by Jenna, Oldfield Park
Thursday, September 09 2010, 7:09PM
“Those of us who actually use these buses have been pointing out the congestion problem all along; you can't add more buses to a single busy road and not expect consequences. Shame it's only occurred to the Powers That Be once it appears too late for anyone to do anything about it. (And yes, before anyone claims otherwise, I did indeed include it in a response to the public consultation on the issue, not just on the Chron's comment pages.)
"This would benefit both the local residents and the traders in Argyle Street and on Pulteney Bridge"
I thought us bus users were benefitting the traders by abandoning the bridge to them? Are you saying that Pulteney Bridge needs a bus service after all?”