Traffic in Bristol

The study of British and Irish roads - their construction, numbering, history, mapping, past and future official roads proposals and general roads musings.

There is a separate forum for Street Furniture (traffic lights, street lights, road signs etc).

Registered users get access to other forums including discussions about other forms of transport, driving, fantasy roads and wishlists, and roads quizzes.

Moderator: Site Management Team

User avatar
JackieRoads
Member
Posts: 489
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2020 14:49

Traffic in Bristol

Post by JackieRoads »

As you may know, there is heavy traffic in Bristol at the moment, but it may not be linked to a accident.

There's always traffic in Bristol, all the time, and several proposals to reduce the amount of traffic by building new roads (example A4174 to the A370), that was built, but there's some construction works going on, including the convertion of Wraxall Road Roundabout to a cut-through roundabout, but the traffic levels keep building up, and more proposals are getting rejected.

Is there a way around this so Bristol is traffic-free?
Fantasy Strip Map Creator- feel free to send me some requests!

As a wise roadie said, don't make any mistakes in building roads.
User avatar
Peter350
Member
Posts: 803
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2018 20:20
Location: Southampton

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by Peter350 »

Sat-navs not directing through traffic into the centre would be a good start. I know of someone who was making a journey from Basingstoke to Exmouth last week, and due to traffic conditions they were routed via the A339/M4 rather than the more obvious A303 (despite the latter being only 3 minutes slower at the time of departure). Presumably they would have stayed on the motorway all the way to Exeter, but due to heavy traffic at Almondsbury, they got routed right past Bristol Cenotaph in the heart of the city, adding an extra hour to the journey!
Herned
Member
Posts: 1363
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by Herned »

JackieRoads wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 10:53 Is there a way around this so Bristol is traffic-free?
The complete lack of a fit-for-purpose public transport system is part of the problem, but solving that will take a lot of time and money. Also not building miles and miles of entirely car-dependent housing would also help, but that ship has sailed
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35758
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by Bryn666 »

Herned wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 12:51
JackieRoads wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 10:53 Is there a way around this so Bristol is traffic-free?
The complete lack of a fit-for-purpose public transport system is part of the problem, but solving that will take a lot of time and money. Also not building miles and miles of entirely car-dependent housing would also help, but that ship has sailed
Bristol is constrained by geography so even slotting tram routes along major radial routes which are the less hillier roads would be tricky.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
WHBM
Member
Posts: 9708
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 18:01
Location: London

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by WHBM »

Herned wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 12:51 Also not building miles and miles of entirely car-dependent housing would also help, but that ship has sailed
You do know that is what housebuilders build because they know that's what people want to buy and have long aspired to ?
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35758
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by Bryn666 »

WHBM wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 13:10
Herned wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 12:51 Also not building miles and miles of entirely car-dependent housing would also help, but that ship has sailed
You do know that is what housebuilders build because they know that's what people want to buy and have long aspired to ?
If I aspire to have sex with one of my friends, they don't provide it just because I want it. People simply wanting something that benefits them and no-one else is not a good enough reason to keep doing it.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
User avatar
c2R
SABRE Wiki admin
Posts: 11162
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2002 11:01

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by c2R »

WHBM wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 13:10
Herned wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 12:51 Also not building miles and miles of entirely car-dependent housing would also help, but that ship has sailed
You do know that is what housebuilders build because they know that's what people want to buy and have long aspired to ?
Really? People aspire to estates of poor quality new build housing sandwiched between industrial areas and motorways on former railway land, miles away from any shops and amenities....

I suspect people buy such houses because they are priced out of what they actually aspire to, and the failures in planning and social policy plus general profit maximizing attitude of housebuilders is instead how we've ended up in such a situation.
Is there a road improvement project going on near you? Help us to document it on the SABRE Wiki - help is available in the Digest forum.
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
User avatar
Debaser
Member
Posts: 2219
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2009 16:57

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by Debaser »

c2R wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 13:29
Really? People aspire to estates of poor quality new build housing sandwiched between industrial areas and motorways on former railway land, miles away from any shops and amenities....
Remember also 'cramped'. The UK housebuilding industry continuing it's fine tradition of providing us with the smallest houses in Europe, such that what may initially pass for a garage actually becomes the overspill storage area - because that's what consumers want.
someone
Member
Posts: 512
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 10:46
Location: London

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by someone »

WHBM wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 13:10
Herned wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 12:51 Also not building miles and miles of entirely car-dependent housing would also help, but that ship has sailed
You do know that is what housebuilders build because they know that's what people want to buy and have long aspired to ?
Wow, I have always lived in cities but I would have never guessed that.

I can imagine some people not wanting to use public transport, but to want to not even have the option, to want to be car dependent, for that to be an aspiration? Wow, I am just stunned by that.
User avatar
ravenbluemoon
Committee Member
Posts: 3042
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:32
Location: Between Mansfield and Göteborg

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by ravenbluemoon »

Whatever happened to the aspiration of a Bristol Metro system that I saw mooted a few years back? Most of it involved using heavy rail - the existing Avonmouth line, and reopening lines to places like Portishead. Perhaps tram/train could work in some of the sprawling estates to the north around Cribbs Causeway? I'm presuming capacity at Bristol Temple Meads could be an issue.
Tony Alice (they,them)
~~~~~
Owner of a classic rust heap/money pit, and other unremarkable older vehicles.
Usually found with a head in an old map or road atlas.

Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Ask me if you want to get involved!

fras
Member
Posts: 3590
Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2012 18:34

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by fras »

Interesting to think that a typical German city the size of Bristol, (population 686,000) would have a comprehensive light-rail/tramway network, plus bus routes, and they would get a heft subsidy to encourage use. The Germans look on our attitudes to public transport in cities with amazement. Here is what Stuttgart, (population 634,000) has: -

https://en.vvs.de/home/

And what has Bristol got ? Damn all apart from expensive First Group buses !
User avatar
trickstat
Member
Posts: 8738
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2014 14:06
Location: Letchworth Gdn City, Herts

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by trickstat »

WHBM wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 13:10
Herned wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 12:51 Also not building miles and miles of entirely car-dependent housing would also help, but that ship has sailed
You do know that is what housebuilders build because they know that's what people want to buy and have long aspired to ?
Correction - they have long aspired to have their own home and they buy what they can afford.
Herned
Member
Posts: 1363
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by Herned »

WHBM wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 13:10 You do know that is what housebuilders build because they know that's what people want to buy and have long aspired to ?
Other countries manage to build new housing and provide decent public transport infrastructure to it
Herned
Member
Posts: 1363
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by Herned »

Bryn666 wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 13:07 Bristol is constrained by geography so even slotting tram routes along major radial routes which are the less hillier roads would be tricky.
Yes, that is a big problem, and the radial routes such as Gloucester Road are too narrow for any segregated service. The railways generally don't go where the people are, or particularly near the city centre. The only proper answer is something at least partly underground, but I imagine jetpacks are more likely
User avatar
Chris Bertram
Member
Posts: 15744
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2001 12:30
Location: Birmingham, England

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by Chris Bertram »

someone wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 15:37
WHBM wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 13:10
Herned wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 12:51 Also not building miles and miles of entirely car-dependent housing would also help, but that ship has sailed
You do know that is what housebuilders build because they know that's what people want to buy and have long aspired to ?
Wow, I have always lived in cities but I would have never guessed that.

I can imagine some people not wanting to use public transport, but to want to not even have the option, to want to be car dependent, for that to be an aspiration? Wow, I am just stunned by that.
Public transport won't run where there are no people to use it. So new build estates will, almost by definition, be without buses until there are residents to use them. I tend to hear a lot of people putting the cart before the horse in these scenarios, and i wonder why.
“The quality of any advice anybody has to offer has to be judged against the quality of life they actually lead.” - Douglas Adams.

Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!
booshank
Member
Posts: 611
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2011 19:05

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by booshank »

Herned wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 17:25
Bryn666 wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 13:07 Bristol is constrained by geography so even slotting tram routes along major radial routes which are the less hillier roads would be tricky.
Yes, that is a big problem, and the radial routes such as Gloucester Road are too narrow for any segregated service. The railways generally don't go where the people are, or particularly near the city centre. The only proper answer is something at least partly underground, but I imagine jetpacks are more likely
Brunel certainly chose an inconvenient location for his station. But does Bristol have bad traffic compared to other British cities of similar size?
DavidBrown
Member
Posts: 8398
Joined: Sun May 29, 2005 00:35

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by DavidBrown »

There's so many problems with transport in Bristol it's hard to know where to begin, really.

If money were no object, I'd say the way to go would be to provide a decent ring road, particularly to the south, meaning much less through traffic from places like the airport.
That would allow a bit less road space to be allocated to cars in the centre, and gradually more and more space could be allocated to public transport and bikes. Better cycle provision seems to be the easier, quicker option, but given the very hilly nature of Bristol won't be suitable along every corridor.
User avatar
JackieRoads
Member
Posts: 489
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2020 14:49

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by JackieRoads »

If the South Bristol Spur was approved, it could have had a impact, like otherwise reducing traffic levels?

But one thing I want to see come to life is the Southern Bristol Bypass like similar to my strip map over in the Fantasy Maps and Ideas thread...
Fantasy Strip Map Creator- feel free to send me some requests!

As a wise roadie said, don't make any mistakes in building roads.
B1040
Member
Posts: 2286
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 15:51
Location: fenland

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by B1040 »

I fear it's a problem of most big cities.
The cities are built on people working, shopping, studying and relaxing there. Many people travel in and out, people like the convenience of their own transport.
Mrs Thatcher could be blamed for her comments about adults on buses being failures, but she was only reflecting what people already thought.
Buses are not a solution to pollution, look at Oxford Street in London.
When the weather is good I prefer my bike to the bus, nearly as fast, and a guaranteed seat. Not everyone is up for cycling though, and more of my commute is driving than cycling.
Early morning buses out of Ramsey have been messed around and no longer provide a sensible commute for many.
Remote working may be a solution if you're not a city centre office owner.
High Street shopping is shrivelling fast, so that demand may go.
I think education may remain face to face for a bit.
Cities may change, the successful ones will reinvent themselves, the less fortunate ones may decline.
User avatar
KeithW
Member
Posts: 19207
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2014 13:25
Location: Marton-In-Cleveland North Yorks

Re: Traffic in Bristol

Post by KeithW »

booshank wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 19:17 Brunel certainly chose an inconvenient location for his station. But does Bristol have bad traffic compared to other British cities of similar size?
It was a perfectly convenient location when it was built. It is the poorly controlled growth since the mid 19th century that is the problem.
Post Reply