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To: Dan Norris, West of England Combined Authority, Metro Mayor

Former 36 bus service for Bristol

In an area of Bristol where wages are stagnant and cost-of-living is high, residents should have confidence that taking a bus will efficiently take them from point A to point B. Life is already challenging, and accessible and affordable buses can alleviate some of the stress.
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Why is this important?

I am reaching out to residents and asking them to support my open letter to Dan Norris addressing the former 36 bus route, which connected Bristol South, Bristol East.

Dear Dan,

I am writing to you on behalf of the residents of Withywood and Hartcliffe regarding the lack of bus services in our area. As you may be aware, there are currently no buses taking passengers from our community to Knowle or Brislington.

This has caused a lot of inconvenience for the residents, especially when it comes to important daily activities such as going to work, visiting family and friends, and even doing our weekly shopping. For instance, to get to Jubilee Pool in Knowle, we have to take a bus to central Bristol and then another one to Knowle. This is not only time-consuming but also costly, especially for those who rely on public transport.

The same goes for those who work or want to shop at the Brislington retail park. We have to take a bus to central Bristol and then another one to the retail park. This is not feasible for those who work there or for families who want to do their shopping with their children. Moreover, for care workers, it is nearly impossible to get to their place of work by bus. The former number 36 bus used to provide a direct route from Hartcliffe and Withywood to Knowle, Brislington, and beyond, but it was cut years ago.

We understand that there may be various reasons for the lack of bus services in our area. However, we would like to request a meeting with you to discuss any plans to improve the bus services in Bristol. We believe that ordinary people must have access to reliable and affordable public transport to go about their daily lives.

We hope that you will consider our request and meet with us to discuss this matter further. We are eager to hear about any plans or initiatives that are being considered to improve the bus services in our community. We believe that with your help, we can find a solution that benefits both the residents and the city of Bristol.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Hartcliffe, Bristol BS13, UK

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Updates

2025-02-04 14:38:04 +0000

Three new bus services for Bristol

1, Service 16 - East Bristol: From Fishponds to Rupert Street in the city centre, via Kingswood, St George, Barton Hill and Temple Meads.
2, Service 36 - South Bristol: From Highridge to St Annes, via Withywood, Hartcliffe, Imperial Park, Knowle and Brislington.
3, Service 37 - South to north: From Knowle and Hartcliffe, to Avonmouth and Severnside, via Bishopsworth.

https://news.bristol.gov.uk/press-releases/ca36163c-8b02-40c8-8869-d3776ffe34d4/three-new-bus-services-for-bristol

2024-04-11 16:47:48 +0100

Our campaign is gaining momentum; Bus operator Transpora has emailed to say "We would be happy to work with you and the mayor to restore further lost links. I have personally worked in buses in Bristol 3 or 4 times since 1999. So I am aware of the more recent history. I also know that the 36 was one of the worst financially performing routes in the city, and also one of the most unreliable because it crossed three major roads - the A420 at Lawrence Hill, A4 Brislington Road and A37 Wells Road. All of which can be a bit unpredictable for traffic.

Nevertheless, we would be happy to work with you to see what we can achieve. I would say however, that we will need some sort of level of funding to get the service going, and maybe to maintain it depending on passenger numbers.

Let me know if this is something that you would like to discuss?"

2024-04-11 14:23:32 +0100

100 signatures reached

2024-04-11 09:51:52 +0100

"First Bus said the 36 was dropped because it was not commercially viable. Cllr Bailes said Mr Norris has agreed to meet with her and other campaigners on the issue. He leads the West of England Combined Authority, which has oversight of transport in the region."

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/lack-cross-south-bristol-bus-9217699

2024-03-25 12:59:31 +0000

50 signatures reached

2024-03-24 21:12:26 +0000

Previous campaigns to save the former 36 bus were met with disappointment and frustration as the route continued to be cut and eventually cut all together. The loss of this bus route has had a significant impact on the community, especially for those who rely on public transportation for work, and daily errands. Many residents have had to find alternative and often more expensive forms of transport, causing financial strain and inconvenience. The lack of a direct bus route has also led to a sense of isolation for the residents of Hartcliffe and Withywood, as they are cut off from East Bristol. This not only affects individuals, but also local businesses and services, as passengers are unable to reach them easily. The reinstatement of the former 36 bus would benefit residents, creating a stronger sense of community. We urge Metro Mayor Dan Norris to consider the impact of the former 36 bus on our community and work towards finding a solution to reinstate this vital bus route.

2024-03-23 16:54:26 +0000

25 signatures reached

2024-03-22 07:32:30 +0000

10 signatures reached