MetroBus

[whole diary]

[chuffed]

Finest Universal Cleanser Known was the response I believe. Could almost say the same about Metrobust !

[Red Squirrel]

Arguably this FW song is also relevant to this topic: https://youtu.be/G0-OO7eWGX0

I used to really like Fred Wedlock - even saw him live once - but I'm not sure he's quite stood the test of time...

[Chris from Nailsea]

Fred was great - West Country, through and through.  He had a song about the Harry Brown - remember her?

I saw him live once, down in Somerset: "Do you know, the number of people who think the M5 is cobblestones beyond Taunton ... ?"

CfN. 

[TonyK]

Arguably this FW song is also relevant to this topic: https://youtu.be/G0-OO7eWGX0

I used to really like Fred Wedlock - even saw him live once - but I'm not sure he's quite stood the test of time...

#MeToo

I remember him telling about his neighbour, the Major, who fought with Montgomery and Eisenhower. Didn't get on with anybody.

He would have had fun with #MetroBust. but you're right, he didn't quite stand the test of time. Pneumonia, IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly).

[johnneyw]

Caught sight of the latest Justabus service yesterday mid afternoon round the back of Gaol Ferry Steps. The one I saw was carrying an axle busting 2 passengers but the service seems a little more frequent than the Lyde Green one. Must say, those guided section attachments on the front look a bit flimsy but we shall just have to rely on that they know what they are doing....... ah, I see a possible stumbling block now.

[simonw]

Why is the M1 route so late?

Why could they not run for a trial period with normal buses whilst Bristol Parkway is shut, and later when Filton Abbey Wood shuts for three weeks?

[TonyK]

Why is the M1 route so late?

Why could they not run for a trial period with normal buses whilst Bristol Parkway is shut, and later when Filton Abbey Wood shuts for three weeks?

What, and prove that MetroBust could serve Parkway station without millions being spent on new roads? Crazy idea. 

[welshman]

And now there's this

[martyjon]

Why is the M1 route so late?

1. The buses are probably still in kit form at the bus builders.

2. I did hear that there were problems with the power units which are bio-gas fueled.

3. The re-fueling facility at the depot of the appointed operator is still being installed.

I did enquire about the range of the vehicles to be used on this route as the "POO BUS" demonstrator run on the appropriately numbered route number 2 a couple of years ago could only operate about 4 round trips on that route before having to re-fuel for which it had to travel to the Avonmouth sewage works where the gas fuel was collected and purified.

I was told that they would be able to cover a normal days duty on one fueling, I have my doubts !

[martyjon]

Why is the M1 route so late?
Why could they not run for a trial period with normal buses whilst Bristol Parkway is shut, and later when Filton Abbey Wood shuts for three weeks?

What, and prove that MetroBust could serve Parkway station without millions being spent on new roads? Crazy idea. 

I have posted on this forum before that the RRB^▸ (Rail Replacement Bus) are using the back entrance/exit to the Parkway station complex with no problems during all the recent rail closures of Parkway and also the constructed MetroBus route over the Stoke Gifford Link Road which is also open to other traffic too.

The trouble is the people that hold the power are BLIND.

[martyjon]

This post may not really be on the right thread but here goes.

The current Lord Mayor of Bristol has suggested that the council buy her a Tesla electric car for her travel to and from her civic duties.

I suggest the council give her a Travelwest contactless travelcard for her to use on MetroBus and the cities other bus services to travel to and from her civic duties and then she will see what the citizens of Bristol have to endure in their daily lives with late running buses, buses terminating short due to the drivers being out of hours all because both councillors and council officers have in the past decades failed to come to grips with the city's traffic problems.

Many of these traffic problems can be alleviated with short quick fixes, but no, they must be put into schemes and properly budgeted for and if the councillors do not agree the schemes are dropped and the traffic situation continues to get worse.  Instead the council are spending money on consultations on how we citizens would consider solving todays problems by the year 2032. FW have I and other frustrated commuters have to wait 14 years just to remove 2 car parking spaces at the top end of Colston Street and paint 2 yellow lines where those spaces are so as the bus drivers can make an impeded journey into Colston Street from the hospitals direction without having to wait until a courteous driver half way down Colston Street flashes their headlights to indicate to the bus driver that they'll wait there for the bus to pass through.

I've shown councillors piccys on my phone of the problem and their stock answer is that they know all about the problem. For how long I ask, why hasn't anything been done about it then. The answer, it has to go forward and be put in a scheme. Oh, here we go again, into another round circle.

[Red Squirrel]

The current Lord Mayor of Bristol has suggested that the council buy her a Tesla electric car for her travel to and from her civic duties.

Can't blame her for trying; I'm told they are rather nice and they befit her ancient office. It's the Mayor and the Super Mayor that I would force to endure the local public transport, what for want of a better word I shall call, system.

[Western Pathfinder]

In days gone by the Lord Mayor of Bristol used to be driven about on Ceremonial duties in AE1 which for as long as I can remember was A Daimler Limousine,and very nice it was as well,then in the late 90s this was changed to a Ford Granada Scorpio,these days they use some non discript Vauxhall which when I was last at city hall (the council house)
a couple of weeks ago was in a dreadful state ,and looked like it had not seen a bucket and sponge for months ,lack of Civic Pride !.

[JayMac]

Maybe less civic pride but using one of BCC^» (Bristol City Council - about)'s fleet vehicles is surely better on cost grounds. Then again, if looking at costs, is the office of Lord Mayor actually necessary? How many times has Bristol's Lord Mayor exercised his or her one and only political function - that of a casting vote? Does city promotion and welcoming Brenda or her clan  really require a berobed non-elected ceremonial dignitary?

As regards a vehicle for him/her if it is necessary. There's a huge fleet of vehicles owned by the city council, 456 of them - cars, MPVs, vans, minibuses. Just use any spare vehicle when required. One dedicated vehicle used infrequently is somewhat profligate.

There are hybrids, electrics and LPG^▸ (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) vehicles in said fleet. The current Lord Mayor is a Green Party member. I can perfectly understand if she chooses not to use a dedicated gas-guzzling vehicle.

[Bmblbzzz]

The Lord Mayor is elected in the same way as other city councillors and then elected from their number by the councillors, so in fact twice elected. By tradition and/or convention he or she doesn't cast a vote. But when my son was at primary school, he sang in a carol concert (or something, I've forgotten exactly what) in St Stephen's church, at which the LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) was present in all his robes and chain and looking very splendid for the kids.

As for LM's vehicle, as the present LM is a Green, I'd have thought she could reject any form of car and go for a Mayoral bicycle or maybe a rickshaw?