Kerry McCarthy Labour MP for Bristol East
Parliament’s Transport Select Committee was in Bristol today to hear about people’s experiences using the buses. Bristol is one of the few areas in the UK where bus travel is on the rise, in part due to an increase in the number of students and young professionals, who are less likely to use the car, moving here.
This has, however put the bus service under more pressure, along with a shortage of drivers and congestion caused by current roadworks. The Managing Director of First Bus, James Freeman, recently got behind the wheel of one of his buses to see for himself what it was like.
I’ve certainly seen more complaints about the buses in recent months, and am in regular contact with First Bus. The number 36 service through Brislington is a perennial source of complaints, because of its circuitous route. But local bus users are worried that proposed changes will cut off a route connecting Brislington to Knowle and Hengrove, and will affect students who attend Oasis Academy, so I have once gain been in touch with First to raise these concerns. If anyone has any other issues they’d like me to raise with First, do please let me know.
