By Daniel Cale-Caplan, News Reporter
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reiterated his support for a mass transit system for the West of England.
In an interview at the new No. 10 North, the PM said he believes that Bristol should be able to ‘aspire to a tram system similar to the one that we have here in Manchester’.
Last month, the mayor of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), Helen Godwin, said Bristol deserves a mass transit system, discussing the possibility of ‘bus-based mass transit’.
What is mass transit?
The Bristol city council describes mass transit as a system of public transportation that is able to move large numbers of people across the city and run separately to other traffic. Mass transit could be ‘made up of several different types of transport’, and could run ‘both over and underground.’
There has been much speculation as to what mass transit would look like in the region. Burnham hinted at a tram system, while the mayor suggested a reliance on improved bus networks and the possibility of ‘segregated bus lanes’.
Affordability was also a discussion point for Godwin, who stated that running some of the routes was costing ‘over £50 per passenger’ - which she described as an ‘extraordinary amount of money’.
Nonetheless, there is consensus among key figures that improved public transportation in Bristol and the surrounding area is key to economic growth in the region, helping to connect residents to employment, education, and leisure opportunities.
With Bristol being one of the cities with the highest car ownership per household, a mass transit system could offer an environmentally friendly alternative with a reduction of carbon emissions.
What would new or improved public transport mean for you?
Epigram spoke to students and asked for their opinions on the new plans for public transport in the city.
One student living in North Village commented on the difficulty of getting to and from lectures, stating that ‘it takes a lot of time’.
She also described having to wake up ‘two hours before a lecture’ for fear of being late due to unreliable bus services, including the U1, which impacted her sleep schedule and work-life balance.
Sofia Lambis
Following the university’s plans to axe the free U1 bus passes to and from Stoke Bishop, several students commented on affordability. One described the bus pass as ‘super expensive’ and lamented a ‘lack of compensation’ when buses are cancelled.
Another student described the buses as ‘quite disorganised’ and ‘not really worth the sort of price you have to pay’.
All students surveyed agreed they would welcome ‘any change’ to Bristol’s public transport that meant greater efficiency and lower cost at the point of use.
Featured image: Epigram / Lenny Osler
