Current Problems
The rate of traffic increase in the Greater Bristol area has been up to three times the national average, and during peak time 50% of motorway traffic is local. Without intervention the council predicts that between 2006 and 2016 an additional 20,000 people would be commuting in cars. Average peak time speeds in Bristol are 16 mph (26 km/h), the lowest of the eight English "core cities", with 23% of journey times spent stationary, costing the local economy £350 million per year. Cars are used for 45% of journeys under 2 km, and 68% of 2–5 km journeys. The dormitory towns of Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Portishead, which have good connections to the M5, but poor public transport systems, contribute to the congestion, and have growing populations.
Bristol's bus service, run by First Group, has been a regular target of criticism. The University of the West of England Student's Union described First Bus as "unsatisfactory" and "untenable", while the 2006 Local Transport Plan describes public transport in Bristol as unattractive and expensive. Bristol East MP, Kerry McCarthy, has stated that attempts to get motorists onto public transport will fail when, as in Bristol, providers repeatedly put fares up above the rate of inflation. In 2005 the company was fined £96,250 for delays, and nearly lost a sixth of its vehicle licenses due to poor maintenance. First Group in Bristol have a target 95% punctuality (maximum five minutes late), but in January–February 2008, punctuality was 83.9%, and reliability 97.5%.
In addition to problems with local public transport, the main local rail franchise, First Great Western, has a poor record of punctuality, with only 71% of trains reaching their destinations on time. In January 2007 and January 2008, fare strikes were organised, during which fake tickets were issued to passengers during morning commutes. There are no suburban rail links into the actual centre of Bristol, and those that do go near to it have infrequent services. This means that rail-travel is not widely used for in-city transport.
Read more about this topic: Transport In Bristol
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