Pay to drive in city

who met in pouring rain on College Green on Saturday, November 24, to demand better bus services ( Post November 26,2018), I have revved up the energy to take the message to the West of England Metro Mayor, Tim Bowles, and his team at their meeting in Kingswood. As a member of the public, I am allowed to submit a statement.

My statement is inspired by the 2015 BRING BACK THE 25 BUS campaign and asks the Metro Mayor to use the new powers from Central Government to create a reliable, affordable, accessible, accountable and integrated bus service for the region’s buses.

My faith is public transport is sustained by We Own It. https:// weownit. org. uk/ public- ownership/buses.

The 2016 UK Bus Awards were a resounding success for public ownership – with publicly owned Reading buses winning three awards and publicly owned Nottingham City Transport being named UK Bus Operator of the Year for the third year in a row.

My memory includes this you tube edited by a Bristol 16-year-old ( www. youtube. com/ watch? v= SsGnfMcswWU 2015). ✒ WE all know that Bristol has serious traffic congestion problems.

The reason is obvious: we have a medieval street plan and try and cram in cars galore. it just can’t work. You cannot force gallon measures into pint pots.

Our roads do not have the capacity. We are not, never have been and never will be an American city, all skyscrapers and wide roads. We evolved, we have a medieval core. We are not a car-city. It is crazy to allow in so many cars into the city centre. We should instead charge them for the problems they create - London and Singapore both have congestion charges, it’s the way forward, it worked very well for them. Make the polluters and the congesting vehicles pay, demand and road pressures will reduce, and aim to be the best medium sized city for walking, cycling and public