Plans to introduce additional bus lanes on a crucial Bristol route, linking the city’s north and the M32, are set to progress this week. The second phase of improvements to Muller Road will be under discussion by Bristol City Council’s transport and connectivity committee. The plans have met with mixed reactions from Bristol Live readers.
The committee is expected to consider proposals for an outline business case worth nearly £1m, aimed at funding the construction of the scheme.
The plan focuses on the lower half of Muller Road, stretching from the railway bridge by Shaldon Road down to Heath Road, just before the M32 motorway. Proposals include the creation of 12-hour bus lanes on both sides of the road, as well as enhancements to infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.
If given the green light, a bus lane would be installed along the southern section of Muller Road from the railway bridge to Shaldon Road southbound and from Heath Road to Glenfrome Road northbound. These lanes would operate between 6am and 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays. This scheme forms part of the Lockleaze Sustainable Transport Infrastructure project, designed to ensure local roads can accommodate future growth. Lockleaze is a burgeoning neighbourhood with approximately 1,000 new homes planned for the area.
Councillor Plowden, the Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, has expressed enthusiasm for the enhancements to Concorde Way, stating: “We’re keen to progress with the improvements to Concorde Way, which is a brilliant resource that we want even more people to use. By putting the right infrastructure in, to make walking and cycling safer and easier, it will relieve pressure on local roads while giving more people the benefits of being outdoors and getting exercise.”
Commenter RichBris says: “I welcome more bus lanes, but that stretch of road only serves two bus routes each with a bus about every 20 minutes. Why not spend the money on busier roads such as Gloucester Rd, Cheltenham Rd and Stokes Croft which have 7 or 8 bus routes? The existing bus lanes are almost permanently blocked by parked cars (in the case of Cheltenham Rd those cars are illegally parked).”
Pioneer2508 speaks from experience: “As a bus driver, let’s put this into perspective. Eastgate roundabout from Muller Road is busy at the best of times. Buses rarely get held up for more than a couple of minutes at that particular bit of road, with exception to match days and the odd weekend when IKEA and Tesco’s get busy. Bus lanes there make absolutely no sense whatsoever and will only increase carbon emissions in an area that isn’t the greatest for that as it stands. Is our council somehow deliberately trying to make it so we literally can’t drive to and from work/shopping etc with our cars? Don’t get me wrong, bus lanes are a godsend in certain places (Bath Road for example) but the infrastructure at the bottom of Muller Rd simply isn’t practical to stick one bus lane in, let alone two.”
Jubblyone4 agrees: “So they are artificially making bus journeys more “attractive” by making it more difficult for motorists to drive on the road (as if that wasn’t already the case). There is nothing that will make me use a bus over a car. It just isn’t as convenient in any way shape or form. I rather suspect many others are of the same opinion. Muller Road used to be fine until they deliberately started narrowing road junctions and getting rid of left turn filters. Congestion is caused by poorly planned roads, not motor cars.”
Ezergood thinks: “Intelligent motorists will welcome these congestion reducing upgrades.”
Shadower replies: “Congestion will be reduced because there won’t be space for cars, and there certainly won’t be any buses!”
Bosco believes: “The point of this is not to decrease the bus travel times, but to increase the car travel time to the point that it is not worth bothering.”
Davewy007 is frustrated with the whole thing: “Sort out the infrastructure before implementation as the Barton Hill bus lane pedestrianisation zone is a joke! This is all about money generated from fines pure and simple. Why don’t BCC just say they don’t want any traffic?? It’s becoming impossible to navigate Bristol as a car driver.”
Shallow Mal says finally: “We suffered years of road closures & temporary traffic lights along Muller Rd, for a useless stretch of a bus lane that runs from the Downend Rd junction to Lidl’s (or is it Aldi?) How much of Bristol’s council tax payers money was wasted on this?”
Do you welcome new bus lanes in Bristol? Will they improve the city or are they just another tax on the motorist? Have your say in our comments section.