This unbelievable story broke over a week ago now, but I decided to hold off on it because perhaps staggering this kind of thing will alert more people that care about cycle paths about what is going on. In short the local council, the illustriously moronic Bristol City Council, have decided that not only do they need to create a "rapid transport" scheme to replace the trams that they voted against considering in 2004. This has obviously annoyed no small number of people since the plan is to turn a stretch of the Bath to Bristol rail path in to a bus route.

I can't even begin to justify why this might be a good idea to begin with, aside from the route being a quaint route for people to commute between the two cities or go walking on nice days, it is a fairly small and narrow path that would almost certainly leave the safety of individuals walking or cycling in danger. But this is only the beginning, as is always the case with this council.

Showing once more that they really don't give a shit about the public and the fact that they are paying far less on public transport than other comparable cities. In fact do take the time to click on that last link and see on Cllr Mark Wright and his tone. Typical of bullshit tosspots in our local government he spends his time not working to come to a solution that Bristol desperately needs to compete with other big cities in the UK, but instead attacking fellow councillors for the lack of fully costed explanations in the process. Even when someone actually makes a point about economic viability he sidesteps it to take another partisan swipe at his colleague.

At least BB has got the bottle to step up to the mark and say where the cuts would go, rather than shirk the argument and use the old "if we shouted louder we'd get the money" nonsense.

Surprisingly he is a Liberal Democrat, not that they need much more of a bad name after their piss poor management of public transport while in charge of our council. But unfortunately shite management doesn't stop with the new Labour contol, in the BBC news report Cllr Mark Bradshaw has this to say...

It is possible that the rapid transit link could enhance use of the cycle path, making it easier for more people to use the path by combining a cycle and transit trip. We want to do all possible to improve the cycle path and make it easier to use.

Yeah, that's right, everyone is going to be as happy as Larry that instead of having a clean and simple, beautiful cycle path to use to commute they'll now have to lug their bike on to a bus that is supposedly "rapid", if they don't have to go through the rigmarole of attaching it securely and perilously to the outside, and pay an extortionate First Bus fare to travel in a way that they clearly don't mind NOT using given they have got on their bike already. Give us a fucking break.

I tell you what it needs, as with many of the cycle paths in Bristol...proper maintenance, proper lighting consistent throughout the route, security cameras at points of potential mugging. Unfortunately both Lib Dem and Labour councils shirk the responsibility of cyclist welfare when it really matters because they never want to pull out their wallet and give out some dosh.

And the icing on the cake is that rather than taking independent advice on what they need to do for their rapid-transport system, they are asking the owner of the monopoly over public transport in Bristol to help out. Why should the people of Bristol trust this council when they actively support and clear the way for even more profiteering by this corrupt company, a company that I read is now planning on only giving customers 7 days to reclaim their money from a change ticket, and only from a First Bus shop. That's right, if THEY don't have enough money to pay you correct change, THEY can keep your money if you don't go down to their shops to claim it back...most likely spending your change ticket just to make the journey down there.

I really despair at the attitude of this council, and if there was any God they would all lose their jobs tomorrow and we'd have to start again with people that actually give a shit about one of the worst problems facing us in this City. Please make your support known against such plans by joining the Facebook group and Sign the petition