Controversial Bristol 'liveable neighbourhood' bus gates to go live despite protests

The bus gates are the final measures to go live as part of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial, which aims to “make local streets safer for all, boost health and wellbeing, improve access to shops, schools and services, and reduce air pollution” - but has also attracted controversy.

When the bus gates go live only authorised vehicles - such as buses, taxis, motorcycles and emergency vehicles - will be permitted to travel through the 24-hour bus gates, which are on Avonvale Road, Marsh Lane and Pilemarsh. Vehicles with approved exemptions will also be able to pass through them.

To make sure people do not drive through the bus gates by mistake, electronic signs at each location will display the go-live date.

Councillor Heather Mack, deputy leader of Bristol City Council, said: “There is no doubt that for many people it will be a big change. We hope that, in combination with the other trial measures, the bus gates will help to make the streets safer and less polluted.

“By stopping drivers from cutting through residential roads, and by encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle for shorter journeys or to use public transport, including the new number 16 bus that goes right through the trial area, local residential streets should be safer and quieter.”

On top of authorised vehicles, there are a number of other vehicles that can apply for a trial area bus gate exemption, including blue badge holders and people on a low income who need to travel for work who live within the Liveable Neighbourhood boundary.

Councillor Mack continued: “I live in the area myself, and I came and listened to people across the trial area and recognised there was a risk we hadn’t responded to concerns some community members had, especially those on low incomes and Disabled people.

“As a result, we have put together a boosted range of travel offers and bus gate exemptions, and I really urge everyone who thinks they could be eligible to check the criteria and apply as soon as possible.

“The travel offers, which include a choice of £250 of First Bus tickets or £150 to spend on a reconditioned bike, are available for households in the trial area who receive certain benefits. This is on top of £100 of First Bus tickets that every household across the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood will receive through the post soon. I don’t want anyone to miss out, so please do check if you could apply for one of these boosted offers or a bus gate exemption.”

For the first six weeks that the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood bus gates will be operating (from June 2 to July 13), if a driver travels through one of them, they will not receive a penalty charge notice, but instead will be sent a warning letter to remind them not to drive through again.

This ‘soft enforcement’ phase will come to an end in July and the bus gates will be fully operational from Monday, July 14. If anyone drives through any of the bus gates from this time, they will receive a penalty charge notice of up to £70.

East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood is being funded by the UK government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.