HearFromYourMP

Comments

• Posted by Max Harris, 18:42, Thu 25 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  I fully support Jon's proposal. The more roads closed to motorist's more often for the benefit of pedestrians and cyclists, the better. Please note I am a regular car driver in the city myself and a city council officer so am not a crazed cycle fascist.

  Kind regards

  Max

• Posted by Jack Whittaker, 18:50, Thu 25 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  I think it is worth trying - Sunday cycle streets are a big hit in Paris, why not Bristol? If it works on the Portway, it would be nice to try it along Fishponds Road or Church Road

• Posted by P H SPACKMAN, 19:30, Thu 25 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  I think it's a great idea. And the Gloucester Road closed to motorists on the occasional Sunday would be my bid.

• Posted by Rob Telford, 19:42, Thu 25 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  If it's the first step to people stepping out of their cars that are choking the planet (as well as me when I cycle down Stapleton Road) and getting some nice clean air in their lungs and some good exercise on their bike, then I'm all for it.

  How do you get around Bristol, Kerry?

• Posted by James Hendry, 19:58, Thu 25 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  As a motorist and cyclist I think it is a terrible idea. There are enough cyclepaths around Bristol to satisfy the most ardent cyclist. As a footnote shouldn't all city councillors use public transport and set an example to the people who voted them in.

• Posted by Sinclair Parkinson, 20:21, Thu 25 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  I believe that although the reason behind the plan is good, the practicality of it certainly isn't.

  Traffic in/around Bristol is bad as the best of times, and closing the Portway will only exacerbate the problem.

  As a motorist who pays for the road fund licence, I object to major roads being closed off for the benefit of those who don't pay anything towards the upkeep of the roads.

  Also, as a disabled citizen who can not cycle or use public transport I have no choice but to use my vehicle for the majority of my travelling needs, and if this plan goes ahead it will prove me right when I say that Bristol City Council are not a accessibility aware council.

• Posted by Ashley Spreadborough, 21:02, Thu 25 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  How about Coronation Road or the road on the other side of the river? Whichever is closed, you can use the other. Similarly back to the Fowlers roundabout from the Bedminster roundabout.

• Posted by Peter Goodwin, 22:17, Thu 25 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  It's a nice idea - but to be practical, it has to be a road where no-one's going to need vehicular access. That pretty well rules out anywhere with houses or with businesses that rely on Sunday trade - and presumably the Portway scheme only extends to Sylvan Way so that golfers can still get to Shirehampton Golf Club by car.

  Arguably the Suspension Bridge could be closed to all but bikes and pedestrians - there are precedents. But that's not in East Bristol...

• Posted by Liz Read, 22:44, Thu 25 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  I think it's a lovely idea, but what they do in Paris and other cities is close the city centre, not just a bit of road on the outskirts. If I wanted to cycle on the Portway I'd almost have to drive there from St George! And what am I going to do when I get there? Just bike up and down randomly? I'd much rather bike round the shops. So let's close the Bond Street ring road and the Horsefair.

  I moved here from Amsterdam and was stunned by how dangerous it is to cycle here. I still don't know how Bristol got the cycling city award. I think we have to move forward, away from the entrenched positions we have in Bristol. We are all motorists, cyclists, pedestrians at some point in our lives. We know that people flock to shop in Cabot Circus precisely because it's safe to walk about, so that old chestnut about Sunday trading (or any day trading). People just don't want to shop in a stinking gully full of traffic fumes. Well, I don't!

  We could do with more cycle lanes and a proper bike infrastructure, not just 6 feet of red tarmac that stops just when you need it. And not like the not-joined-up mess that is the Feeder Road. The Dutch cycle infrastructure makes it a really wheelchair-friendly country because those people use the bike lanes too, so we should think of all the maybe unexpected benefits a bike-friendly city would bring.

  I'm not exactly a bike fascist in lycra, I'm a middle-aged mum with arthritis. But starting from next month I'll be cycling to work and I'm really quite excited about it.

• Posted by Elaine Chamberlain, 07:34, Fri 26 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  It is a ridiculous idea and would actually make life difficult for local people who want to go anywhere on a Sunday with their family when using a bike would be impractical. Also - depending on the road (and portway seems a main route) - what about tourists to the region, how annoyed would you be if you came up to Bristol and then roads were closed and you couldn't get somewhere because the road was closed?! It seems another nice 'fluffy' planet friendly idea with no practicality behind it.

• Posted by Stephen Burch, 09:17, Fri 26 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  I support John's idea and would like to echo many of the positive thoughts above.

  Its difficult to think of a road to close that won't impact cars that a cyclist would also want to ride on. Maybe close the whole of Spike Island or the road across the suspension bridge to Ashton Court or allow cycling on the Downs?

• Posted by Simon, 09:32, Fri 26 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  I am sick and tired of the actions of the council to promote cycling. The idea of closing the portway in summer is madness. It'll just make the downs a traffic jam - and so stop people enjoying them. Bristol seems completely against car drivers, why not just make it quicker and easier for them to pass through the city? The post about the road fund licence makes a good point. Until cyclists are registered and licenced we shouldn't make provision for them like this.

• Posted by Tony Eves, 22:01, Fri 26 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  I totally object to this proposal. Cyclists pay no road tax to use a bike on the road and do not even have to pass a proficiency test. Why should other road users be denied access to a public road and suffer the considerable inconvenience of having to find an alternative route for the terribly middle class woolly view that it would be a good idea! When this road is closed not only does it create more traffic in the Downs and whiteladies areas, it causes a lot more traffic in Southville, Ashton and Bedminster areas, and probably elsewhere too. As other posters have noted it would be very annoying if you where a visitor to the city and didn't know of the closures and was sent on a detour. I am fed up with city councillors making it more and more difficult for drivers to use the roads they are entitled to! Not everybody can or wants to use a bicycle or be a pedestrian, so it would be wrong to close for that reason alone.

• Posted by Rob Telford, 10:08, Sat 27 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  "Not everybody can or wants to use a bicycle or be a pedestrian, so it would be wrong to close for that reason alone."

  That's exactly WHY it needs to be closed - because no one wants to cycle or be a pedestrian, and they should be made to for the good of the planet.

  In the same way that passive smoking kills, so do "passive" emissions.

  If something affects everyone for the worse, why are people allowed to do it?

  [May I point out that my extreme views are mainly to stir up the debate on here, but I do think the only sustainable future is one where cars don't exist or are carbon-neutral. I recognise that there are incremental steps to be taken to get to that point.]

• Posted by Sinclair Parkinson, 14:46, Sun 28 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  So Rob, pray tell how the disabled will be MADE to become a cyclist or a pedestrian?

  I for one really struggle using my wheelchair around the centre or the majority of the roads, mainly due to the ignorance of other people rather than the uneven pavements and lack of drop curbs around certain roads.

  Are you going to fund the rehab I would need in order to learn to use a cycle, or even fund a specific bike/handbike that I could use?

  Didn't think so.

• Posted by Clive Burford, 09:23, Mon 29 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  I think that the whole idea is utter madness. As a motorist I pay extremely high taxes for the use of the road and I would certainly feel cheated should I not be allowed to use certain roads for the sake of non, contributing road users! The cyclist! Who, has already taken over many area's, whereby pedestrian and motorist alike are imperiled by the insane, pavement bicycle rider! No I definately cannot support this absolute ridiculous scheme....! I remain respectfully yours. Mr C R Burford

• Posted by caroline leesmith, 11:01, Mon 29 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  As a car driver and cyclist i think it's a great idea! how about Church Road, Stapleton Road and Fishponds Road too.

  It's not about paying tax, car's pay tax because of the wear and tear they do to roads, cyclists do not because they do not damage (and inceidentally are often hardly given enough space move in). We all have the right as citizens, as people, to use all of the public spaces, and roads are a public space, to move about safely. I think health and safety is paramount and over recent years the amount of cars on the roads has increased dramatically. More people would definately be encouraged to cycle if there were less cars on the roads at times.

• Posted by K Jerrold, 11:13, Tue 30 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Another wacky Barbara Janke idea for Bristols minoritys (when I say minority I mean cyclists). Not only are they wasting £11.5m on cycle paths but they now want to close Bristol Roads on a Sunday (of course none of the Lib Dem councillors actually work on a weekend).

  And at the same time the Lib Dems are planning on giving Tesco planning permission for a huge new store on the current BCFC ground. I wonder how that would work on a Sunday with the Portway closed?

• Posted by Liz Read, 19:51, Tue 30 June 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Sinclair Parkinson, please scroll up to my comment. If we had a bike infrastructure like they do in Holland it would be so much easier for you in your wheelchair too. When I was there I knew someone who commuted 10km to work in a wheelchair, down the bike lane, down to the Underground in a lift, straight onto the metro trains that have floors flush with the platform (for all the bikes), and the same at the other end. He was an Englishman and he really enjoyed the freedom and independence he was able to have in Holland because of all the bike facilities. I really admire you daring to navigate all the traffic in Bristol, it's bad enough on foot!

• Posted by Sinclair Parkinson, 07:38, Wed 1 July 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Looks like I may be moving to Holland soon then Liz :)

• Posted by Rob Telford, 18:51, Thu 2 July 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Of course I think there should be alternative means of transport for disabled people. Bus and train services should be improved. My mum has Parkinson's Disease and relies on my dad to be driven places. I'm not suggesting for a second that those who aren't able should be happy about this development.

  But if you aren't disabled, what other reason can there be not to walk, cycle or use public transport in cities?

  The only way we can stop climate change is by switching our travelling habits. ANYTHING that makes people do this is a good thing for EVERYONE as far as I can tell.

• Posted by Simon, 09:31, Fri 3 July 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  [What other reason can there be not to walk, cycle or use public transport in cities?] Er, keeping warm/dry, safe and getting where you want to go quickly and cheaply. For crying out loud, millions of people use cars because they are the best means of getting around. If they weren't, they wouldn't be so popular.

• Posted by Rob Telford, 14:48, Wed 15 July 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  It depends what you mean by the word "best".

  I include "whether they kill the planet more than any other means of transport" in my definition of "best".

  You obviously don't. Well done for not caring! [gives thumbs up]

• Posted by ako, 17:48, Mon 20 July 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  really i do not have any think to say just i say thanks to all mp in bristol ..

Commenting on this message is now disabled.