West: Congested and polluted

Paul Barltrop Politics Show West

It is official: Bristol is one of the most traffic-clogged places in Britain. A government study suggests not only is it the fourth worst city - but rush hour queues have actually deteriorated since five years ago.

The Department for Transport reckons that traffic speeds during peak times in Bristol last year averaged 17.1mph.

In 2000 they were very slightly faster: 17.4mph. Only London, Leicester and Nottingham were slower.

About the only thing everyone agrees is that there is no easy solution - and major changes face fierce opposition. The politicians have fallen rather quiet.

Carrot and stick

First group is trailing high tech articulated "superbuses"

A few years ago Bristol proposed carrots and sticks: a tram system to whisk passengers around the city, a congestion charge to get them out of their cars.

But trams have been abandoned, faced with rising costs and growing government cynicism about their usefulness.

And plans to charge drivers entering the city centre have been shelved for now.

"It is unlikely we would implement a scheme until significant improvements to public transport have been put in place that offer people a suitable alternative to using the car," says city council spokeswoman Tamsin May.

The new figures have brought calls for action.

David Redgewell is from the pressure group Transport 2000: "We need more park-and-ride sites, coupled with a congestion charge, showcase bus routes and a vastly improved train network.

"None of these will work in isolation."

Road tolls?

Even organisations representing motorists like the RAC Foundation, reckon tolls may be necessary.

"A congestion charge is something that needs to be looked at in Bristol," says Campaigns Manager Sarah Forrow.

"However, the reason it has been successful in London is because the capital has an adequate public transport system. Bristol does not."

Bristol's present approach is rather piecemeal and gradual. More bus and car-share lanes are planned - such as on the M32, if a park-and-ride can be put at the top of the city's biggest access road.

And there are some other hopeful signs. Off-peak traffic has speeded up slightly in recent years. And cycling is the fastest growing form of transport in the city.

About 5% of people now get to work by bike, up from 3.3% in 1991.

And the men and women in Lycra reckon this is the way to go.

Politics Show is live at Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride - as they put their ideas direct to the politician in charge of the city's transport system.

Politics Show

Politics Show West wants to hear from you.

Watch the programme, and let us know what you think. That is the Politics Show, Sunday, 19 June 2005 at 12.00pm.

Join David Garmston on Politics Show West on BBC One at 12.00pm.

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