Did anyone see the C4 documentary on the Independent Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson, and his war against the car?
As an ex resident of Cotham I had particular interest in this as much of the footage focused on the perceived heavy handed traffic enforcement on the Gloucester Road. Now, I know you've got to be pretty stupid to park in a bus lane but people were ending up with their cars on the back of a transporter for the tiniest transgression. And, since the whole road is monitored by CCTV this was happening within a couple of minutes of the incident taking place. Local businesses, already on the breadline, are up in arms as people can't just pull over and pop in anymore.
What was striking about the programme, though, was that this man makes no attempt to disguise his contempt for the car and his anti car crusade is his whole raisin d'être.
So, he bans cars From the city centre one or two days a month and tells us how everyone thinks it so wonderful that they can enjoy the city without breathing in the stinking fumes belched out by those filthy cars. And are these people regular folks going about their business? Nope, the usual identikit sandalistas juggling on unicycles and such like.
Such is his singularity of mind that you felt he really did come that close to implementing a residents parking scheme - something opposed by 90% of the city and a similar percentage of the chamber. As one resident put it, they charge you £48 a year to park outside your own house but can't even guarantee you a place within 5 streets of your house.
Seriously George, if you really want people to leave their cars at home how about a bit of carrot - it's all stick with you. Why can't we have a metro or tram system? I'd love to be able to get the train to Temple Meads and hop on a tube train to Clifton but whenever I do go to Clifton I drive to avoid the God awful bus journey from the station.
As an ex resident of Cotham I had particular interest in this as much of the footage focused on the perceived heavy handed traffic enforcement on the Gloucester Road. Now, I know you've got to be pretty stupid to park in a bus lane but people were ending up with their cars on the back of a transporter for the tiniest transgression. And, since the whole road is monitored by CCTV this was happening within a couple of minutes of the incident taking place. Local businesses, already on the breadline, are up in arms as people can't just pull over and pop in anymore.
What was striking about the programme, though, was that this man makes no attempt to disguise his contempt for the car and his anti car crusade is his whole raisin d'être.
So, he bans cars From the city centre one or two days a month and tells us how everyone thinks it so wonderful that they can enjoy the city without breathing in the stinking fumes belched out by those filthy cars. And are these people regular folks going about their business? Nope, the usual identikit sandalistas juggling on unicycles and such like.
Such is his singularity of mind that you felt he really did come that close to implementing a residents parking scheme - something opposed by 90% of the city and a similar percentage of the chamber. As one resident put it, they charge you £48 a year to park outside your own house but can't even guarantee you a place within 5 streets of your house.
Seriously George, if you really want people to leave their cars at home how about a bit of carrot - it's all stick with you. Why can't we have a metro or tram system? I'd love to be able to get the train to Temple Meads and hop on a tube train to Clifton but whenever I do go to Clifton I drive to avoid the God awful bus journey from the station.
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