Delib : Dialogue App

Many parts of Bristol are ruined by cars. I have friends and relatives who cannot move freely about the city because of cars. A neighbour uses a wheelchair: she cannot go out of her front gate sometimes because of cars parked on the pavement. I have a friend who has the same problem with her push chair. An old lady neighbour struggles to maintain her independence because she cannot get to the shops for cars parked on the pavement and because it is too dangerous to cross Gloucester Road. She often gives up and goes home. Children cannot play on the streets. Our youngest is too scared of traffic to ride his bike - at his age I used to ride long distances. My partner was nearly hit by someone mounting a pavement in order to park and then given lots of abuse when she complained. I could go on for pages about the fragmentation of local communities.

If you really want to improve the lot of the average Bristolian you would deal with the issue of traffic boldy and determinedly. A reduction in private car use would solve many of the city's problems. This kind of exercise is tokenism. If you really want to make a difference you will have to start leading instead of forming focus groups, running referenda and asking the population for ideas.