Improving bus, cycling and walking between Bristol and Bath

How can we make travelling between Bristol and Bath better on foot, by bike or by bus? That’s the question residents who live near or travel along the A4 are being asked, to help shape transport improvements along the route. 

The West of England Combined Authority wants to hear about the issues people face as well as ideas on how to provide better bus, cycling and walking options to help people move around more easily and sustainably.

The survey is part of the Bristol to Bath Corridor project led by the West of England Combined Authority and delivered in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council and Bristol City Council.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “This section of the A4 can get horribly congested. People who regularly travel along this road have strong views about air quality and being stuck in traffic jams. To reach our ambitious net zero target by 2030, we have to provide better transport options. Cars shouldn’t be the default between Bath and Bristol. There are no quick fixes to the challenges of the busy A4, but this consultation is an important start to finding real and sustainable solutions so I urge everyone take part.” 

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “The A4 corridor is already one of the city’s busiest routes, and it will be under even more pressure as the population of Bristol grows. We want people to share their views and experiences of the A4 to set out what improvements they would like to see to reduce congestion. We are working to deliver rapid bus and cycle routes as the foundation of our ambitious mass transit plans. By giving buses more priority, we can increase the use of public transport and build a case for government and private organisations to invest in the low carbon, reliable transport network Bristol deserves.”

Bath & North East Somerset Council Leader Councillor Kevin Guy said: “There is a huge reliance upon cars along the A4 between Bath and Bristol, it is frequently heavily congested and 50% of the corridor has air quality issues. Opportunities for walking and cycling are limited and most of the A4 has no off-road cycle path. We want to enable people to move away from using cars by improving bus services through a new metrobus route between the city centres and create an end-to-end cycle route connecting communities along the corridor.”

For more information please visit: www.travelwest.info/bristoltobath

The Bristol to Bath survey closes on the 10 September 2021. To request a paper copy or alternate format please call 0117 903 6449 or email bristoltobath@westofengland-ca.gov.uk