Bristol & Bath local elections 2021: where do the candidates stand on car free cities?

On Thursday 6th May, residents of Bristol can vote for their next local councillors, the Mayor of Bristol, the West of England Mayor and the Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner. Residents of Bath will have a say on the latter two positions. Each of these roles have different responsibilities, but all elected people will have to engage with the rapid changes we need to lower transport carbon emissions in Bristol and Bath.

We asked candidates to tell us what they’d do on a range of issues to do with car dependency, the negative effects of cars and alternative ways of getting around the city. We also studied their manifestos and public policy statements to ensure we got a rounded picture of their positions on the key factors for transitioning to and creating car free cities. Car Free Bristol Campaigner Rob Bryher summarises the candidates’ positions below.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by surname. Click the position you want to learn more about to expand the content.

+ Mayor of the West of England

The Mayor of the West of England has powers to set the rules for local bus services, including the routes, timetables and fares; manage local transport to help people get around more easily; and help shape how land is used to meet the area’s housing, employment and transport needs.

1. Actively take motorised vehicles off the road

Dan Norris (Labour) wants to unclog the roads and get people out of cars. Dan wants to review the frequency of proposed Metro-West train services to ensure that they attract passengers and incentivise public transport use away from car use.
Jerome Thomas (Green) wants to reduce the attractiveness of car driving, reduce motorised vehicle traffic, provide support for car clubs and subsidise bus services in rural areas.
Samuel Williams (Conservative) states that he will not unduly penalise car owners but instead present a preferable mode of travel.
Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat) wants a car club electric vehicle point in every street of over 50 houses in urban areas and at least one per village in rural areas.

2. Make streets safer for the most vulnerable road users

Jerome Thomas (Green) wants to identify danger spots on roads, reduce traffic speeds and allocate more road space for non car users.
Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat) wants to fix potholes at the side of roads used heavily by cyclists and work with the police to address enforcement of parking infringements that block cycle routes and pavements.

3. Reduce transport-related carbon emissions in our area

Dan Norris (Labour) wants to convene a series of discussions and roundtable events to reaffirm the region’s climate change commitments and use the Transport Review to start a transformation of the public transport network, investigating options such as mass transit and bus franchising, with a focus on green and zero carbon transport fleets.
Samuel Williams (Conservative) wants to combat human caused carbon, air pollution and congestion and to provide a public transport system that is preferable to personal vehicles.
Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat) wants to create green transport plans for all of the main road corridors into Bristol and Bath and use franchising powers to provide new orbital bus routes linking city suburbs with electric or hydrogen buses.

4. Change the built environment to prioritise sustainable mobility and people over cars.

Dan Norris (Labour) wants to steer the Walking and Cycling Plan to invest in and create safe, convenient, and well advertised walking and cycling routes and infrastructure. Dan wants to protect the right to roam and access to green space, by investing in public footpath upkeep and signage, and ensure public transport connects those looking to get out to our countryside. Dan wants to reopen the Portishead rail line, upgrade Temple Meads station and complete the electrification of the rail network.
Jerome Thomas (Green) wants increased numbers of residents parking zones and is opposed to the south Bristol link road. Jerome also commits to introducing employer parking levies for large businesses to generate revenue to improve, invest in and increase use of public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure. Jerome wants to invest in local rail and the potential development of trams.
Samuel Williams (Conservative) wants new ‘on-demand’ services and is committed to mixed mode highway improvements. Samuel also commits to delivering at least six new railway stations, built in Avonmouth, Ashley Down, Charfield, Henbury, North Filton and Portishead. Samuel wants further investment in park and rides and cycling and walking paths. He also celebrates the Voi electric scooters trial and wants to deliver a network of electric bikes, complemented by a new and innovative docking system.
Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat) wants to put sustainable transport infrastructure in place before releasing land for development, take a presumption against major new roads and stop work on the south Bristol link road, and introduce more residents parking zones. Stephen commits to pedestrianise the roads around Corn Street in Bristol and Milsom Street in Bath, create a Brislington Greenway for walkers and cyclists rather than use this space as a road, seek new powers from the government to introduce a workplace parking levy to disincentivize cheap car commuting and invest in public transport and re-open rail stations at Ashley Down, Charfield, Portway, Saltford, Long Ashton, St Annes and Winterbourne.

5. Annual targets for parking space reductions

Jerome Thomas (Green) wants annual targets to remove parking spaces from streets

6. Repurpose parking spaces for parklets and bike and scooter storage.

Jerome Thomas (Green) wants more on-street space to be used for secure bike and e-scooter storage and parklets.
Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat) wants to set aside parking spaces in residential areas for bike hangers.

7. Tackle environmental injustice of poorest areas with lowest car ownership being most affected by air pollution and prioritise transport equality

Dan Norris (Labour) wants to guide the emergency provision of public transport given the challenges of the pandemic, such as ensuring all buses have adequate safety measures and key routes are served. Dan also wants effective advertising of the cheapest fares and routes, better control of ticket prices and timetables to ensure affordability and value for money and improve accessibility for disabled people, wheelchair users, and people with visual or hearing impairments to all bus and train stations, making them safe and well lit.
Jerome Thomas (Green) wants to improve bus services through franchising or enhanced partnerships as a minimum with the bus companies including community transport services and reducing bus fares for children and young people under 21.
Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat) wants to work with employers, colleges and training providers to enable people to have access to a bike, regulate bus fares and provide more night buses.

8. Measures to tackle air pollution from surface transport

Dan Norris (Labour) wants to create a Green Recovery Fund with a focus on delivering more electric car charging points. Dan wants to explore the potential of Clean Air Zones to improve air quality.
Jerome Thomas (Green) wants to implement clean air zones (with appropriate transitional financial support), continue electrification of the vehicle fleet and provide lamppost electric vehicle charging points.
Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat) wants to introduce Clean Air Zones, develop a plan with Western Power to enable a roll out of mass access to electric vehicle charging points and switch all taxis and private hire vehicles to electric before 2030 and change Park and Ride bus sites and city centre car parks in Bath and Bristol to “arrive and choose” transport hubs.

9. Enable more liveable neighbourhoods to be established

Jerome Thomas (Green) wants a reduction of ‘rat runs’ and to identify a long list of priority areas for fully implementable liveable neighbourhoods.
Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat) wants to roll out more Low Traffic Neighbourhoods where there is support.

10. Rapidly increase the number of School Streets and reduce engine-idling around schools

Dan Norris (Labour) wants to make walking and cycling a part of the daily commute to work and school, to boost health and wellbeing, reduce air pollution, and mitigate climate change. Dan wants to promote cycling, especially in schools, with programmes to increase access to bikes, bike safety training, and access to bike racks.

Jerome Thomas (Green) wants to increase funding for pedestrian crossings and traffic calming (especially near schools) and work with the local authorities to identify implementable school streets.

Manifestos for each candidate can be found at the following links:

+ Mayor of Bristol

The role involves leading the council and its councillors to provide services for the people of Bristol, with a broader role representing the interests of Bristol’s citizens at a national and international level.

1. Actively take motorised vehicles off the road

Caroline Gooch (Liberal Democrat) wants to expand provision of Car Club shared car schemes and encourage innovation and viability of driverless car technology.
Sandy Hore-Ruthven (Green) wants to promote car sharing.
Alastair Watson (Conservative) states he is not anti-car and wants a reduction in dirty vehicles whilst still recognising that car travel remains important for many.
Marvin Rees (Labour) wants to make streets safer and to give people the confidence to walk and cycle, rather than use polluting vehicles.

2. Make streets safer and more accessible for the most vulnerable road users

Caroline Gooch (Liberal Democrat) wants to invest in and improve walking routes to make them safer and more attractive.
Sandy Hore-Ruthven (Green) wants to enforce fines for vehicles parking in bus lanes, cycle lanes and on pavements and campaign to end pavement parking. Sandy wants to improve the quality of cycle routes through the city, with safe junctions, better lighting and separate space, particularly around schools. Sandy wants to support cycle training schemes.
Marvin Rees (Labour) wants to set up a website to allow people to report heavy lorries driving through restricted areas and tackle rat-running and speeding to make streets safer and to give people the confidence to walk and cycle.
Alastair Watson (Conservative) wants a clampdown on pavement parking and levying fines where access is prevented.

3. Change the built environment to prioritise sustainable mobility and people over cars.

Caroline Gooch (Liberal Democrat) wants to deliver a work-place parking levy to fund public transport improvements, reduce congestion and combat air pollution. Caroline supports new simplified Resident Parking Zones (RPZs) with limited hours and commits to making sure that RPZs are not-for-profit with simpler, more flexible zone systems as opposed to the blanket 9am - 5pm scheme. Caroline aims to investigate and implement, with local consent, pedestrianisation of the city centre, Clifton Village and other suitable areas, promote and invest in new cycle routes ensuring that segregated routes are prioritised, develop more Park & Rides to ease traffic in the city, deliver a rail expansion project including ten new stations (including suburban stations at Brentry, Ashton Gate, St Anne’s and Ashley Down) and two new tracks with more to follow in future phases. Caroline wants transport hubs at Temple Meads and at stations along busy routes into the city. Caroline wants lifts at stations with more than one platform to improve disabled access to trains and supports the implementation of a light rail or tram link to Bristol Airport.
Sandy Hore-Ruthven (Green) wants new developments to prioritise pedestrian and cycling routes and to use the region’s capital expenditure plan for transport to support the introduction of light rail (MetroWest), cycle-route infrastructure and low-cost road improvement schemes, such as priority traffic signals that support better traffic flow and improve cycling and walking. Sandy wants to develop plans for 20-year improvements to walking, cycling, buses, rail and road in the region in preparation for funding opportunities that arise. Sandy opposes plans for major road building that prioritise the car, including the South Bristol Ring Road, and instead wants to invest the money in prioritising routes for public transport and for people on foot and bike. Sandy wants to introduce corporate work-place parking levies for large businesses to fund £6m a year of investment. Sandy wants to introduce new residents’ parking schemes where needed. Sandy wants to reintroduce car-free Sundays, pedestrianise the Old City and some high streets, install temporary cycle/walking lanes (to aid social distancing), fund walking projects, adjust the timing of lights at controlled crossings to minimise pedestrian delays, support the delivery of the Bristol Walking Strategy, improve signage for pedestrians and make sure pavements are well maintained by removing bins and other obstructions. Sandy commits to a city-wide strategic cycle network of dedicated cycle lanes, promotion of the use of electric bikes (including cargo bikes) through delivering bike charging points; and the roll out of more bike parking where needed, including at key transport hubs across the city. Sandy wants to monitor the use of electric scooters, maintain bus shelters and install universal real-time information. Sandy wants to make local rail services more frequent and commits to working with North Somerset Council to deliver the Portishead Rail Link and improvements to the rail service around Ashton Gate Stadium.
Marvin Rees (Labour) wants to turn Temple Meads into an integrated transport hub, expand the number of Park and Ride sites and open new and improve existing rail stations, such as Ashley Down, Henbury, and Filton North, and provide more frequent train services through the Metrowest project.
Alastair Watson (Conservative) wants to develop a ring of park and ride facilities to capture commuters further out and reduce traffic. Alastair wants to improve cycling provision with a series of targeted interventions that improve safety and encourage use and work with bus companies to expand frequency and services around the city not just to the city centre. On rail, Alastair aims to work with neighbouring councils to deliver the Henbury Loop and Portishead lines and new stations at Horfield and St Anne's.

4. Annual targets for parking space reductions

Caroline Gooch (Liberal Democrat) wants to install a network of smart parking sensors providing real time information to the public about availability of parking spaces, reducing congestion and illegal parking. Caroline also wants to deliver 30 minutes of free parking in the Central Parking Zone.
Sandy Hore-Ruthven (Green) wants to reduce the number of public car-parking spaces in the city centre (with an annual target) to make an impact on air pollution.
Alastair Watson (Conservative) aims to reduce parking spaces in the central area of the city.

5. Repurpose parking spaces for parklets and bike and scooter storage.

Caroline Gooch (Liberal Democrat) wants to expand Bristol City Council’s bike hanger scheme to provide secure cycle storage.
Sandy Hore-Ruthven (Green) wants more lockable bike hangars in residential areas.
Marvin Rees (Labour) wants to provide more on-street bike hangers throughout the city.
Alastair Watson (Conservative) wants to create space for secure bike and scooter parking by reducing on-street parking.

6. Tackle environmental injustice of poorest areas with lowest car ownership being most affected by air pollution and prioritise transport equality.

Caroline Gooch (Liberal Democrat) wants to ensure greater accessibility for people with disabilities to cycle routes, and to use bus franchising to lower fares for all, create a young people’s bus pass (5-25yrs) to give all young people reduced bus fares.
Sandy Hore-Ruthven (Green) states that a car-based transport system excludes the poorest and most vulnerable and those most affected by pollution. Sandy wants to restore public transport after Covid and commits to halving bus fares for under-21s and open a Metrobus route to Hartcliffe and Hengrove. Sandy wants to take back public control of bus routes using enhanced partnerships and franchising powers, increase subsidies for buses and improve the punctuality and reliability of buses.
Marvin Rees (Labour) wants to provide free travel for apprentices and students under-25, double the frequency and improve the reliability of existing bus journeys through the Bus Deal, increase the number of bus routes and protect existing community services.

7. Measures to tackle carbon emissions and air pollution from surface transport

Caroline Gooch (Liberal Democrat) wants to push for an increase in public transport to large sporting and events venues, hospitals, airports, and all railway stations. repurpose multi-story and other large car parks to have electric vehicle charging services and secure and dry bicycle parking lockers. Caroline aims to deliver a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) that promotes clean travel over a phased period while developing measures to ensure that those in poorer and outlying areas of the city can continue to access employment, health, and welfare opportunities whilst reducing car use. Caroline commits to switch all taxis and private hire vehicles away from diesel and petrol before 2030, and make Bristol electric car friendly by tripling provision of charging points across the city during this administration. Caroline wants to establish a ‘Sustainable Transport Forum’ to work with universities and the local technology sector to develop sustainable transport solutions and wants to promote hydrogen technology for public vehicles.
Sandy Hore-Ruthven (Green) supports the vision of a long-term mass transit system for Bristol but states that prioritised bus routes will make just as big an impact on pollution at a lower cost and could be introduced more quickly. Sandy will implement the Clean Air Zone swiftly, continue installing electric vehicle charging points and support Bristol’s regulated taxi service companies (to reduce car ownership). Sandy wants to make public transport the best option for travel to big events.
Marvin Rees (Labour) wants a mass transit system incorporating underground and overground elements. Marvin wants to promote cleaner technologies for buses, cars and taxis, expand electric car infrastructure and continue to invest in bio-gas buses. Marvin wants a Clean Air Zone that charges non compliant vehicles in the city centre and to introduce freight consolidation to minimise polluting lorries.
Alastair Watson (Conservative) states that any underground proposal isn’t feasible. Alastair supports clean air for Bristol but believes that the current proposals for the Clean Air Zone are flawed and aims to lobby the government to remove the Portway from the plans, stating that they cut off the north from the south of the city.

8. Enable more liveable neighbourhoods to be established

Sandy Hore-Ruthven (Green) wants to promote neighbourhood traffic schemes that stop rat-runs and make communities for people, not cars, invest each year in community-led safety and traffic reduction schemes including low-traffic neighbourhoods (working with communities to design them), and promote resident-led street play and School Streets. Sandy wants to make green and active travel the most convenient choice and for Bristol to become a 15-minute city.
Marvin Rees (Labour) wants to roll out at least two Liveable Neighbourhood pilots.
Alastair Watson (Conservative) wants to evaluate the planned trials for Liveable Neighbourhoods and see how this could be extended to other areas over the coming years.

9. Rapidly increase the number of School Streets and reduce engine-idling around schools

Sandy Hore-Ruthven (Green) wants to make neighbourhoods and roads safe for children and residents through enforcement of 20mph speed limits, no-idling zones and street closures near schools.
Marvin Rees (Labour) wants to increase the number of School Streets year on year and reduce the number of parents driving their children to school. Marvin wants to do this by supporting schools to adopt alternative active travel plans and involving pupils in monitoring the local air quality.

Manifestos for each candidate can be found at the following links:

+ Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner

Rather than asking about car reduction in general, questions for these candidates focused solely on road danger and pavement parking which are two areas the police have a more direct role in tackling.

Kerry Barker (Labour)

Kerry states that these are not problems that the police alone can solve. They require a joined-up approach from the local and regional authorities and police.

Cleo Lake (Green)

Cleo states in her manifesto that road safety and pedestrian prioritisation are two trending concerns that she is aware of from the last year. Cleo commits to ensure that victims are at the centre, that they feel respected, listened to and taken seriously and states that she does not underestimate the impact that road crime has on people.

Heather Shearer (Liberal Democrat)

Heather commits to investing more in high volume crimes that people care about, including reducing dangerous driving, speeding and illegal parking.

Mark Shelford (Conservative)

Mark has committed to work closely with local highway authorities to drive down and prevent the top 5 reasons for death on the roads and improve the speed of support for victims of dangerous driving. Mark says that the answer to pavement parking lies predominantly with councils to fix but committed to working with them to try to achieve a better outcome for all concerned.

John Smith (Independent)

John commits to developing a Road Safety Strategy with road user groups, which would prioritise education and communication with motorists about the vulnerability of others and support schemes like Near Miss and Close Pass. John wants to prioritise addressing the four causes of road deaths and explore driver education programmes. John aims to review all road traffic incidents, invest in trained collision investigators, increase the number of enforcement vehicles, and utilise Community Speed Watch groups. John wants a proactive response to vehicle speeding and to support victims of road collisions. John supports improvements in road architecture for vulnerable road users and is committed to lobbying the government to bring in a complete ban on pavement parking.

Manifestos for each candidate can be found at the following links:

Kerry Barker (Labour)

Cleo Lake (Green)

Heather Shearer (Liberal Democrat)

Mark Shelford (Conservative)

John Smith (Independent)

+ Bristol City Council (councillors)

Contact details for councillor candidates are not usually made available except in locally delivered literature. With this in mind, we have contacted as many candidates as we can to give their perspective on their local wards. The answers they have given will be used to inform ongoing dialogue with the Car Free Bristol campaign for those candidates who are elected.

Skye GoldingApril 28, 2021