News / Transport
‘I’m not a bus enthusiast, I just like buses’
Bristol City Council’s new cabinet member for transport is a big fan of buses.
“I just like buses as a means of transport,” says Don Alexander, saying that the “sociability” of public transport is one of its best aspects.
So what is Alexander’s favourite Bristol bus? “The Portway park & ride,” says the councillor for Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston without skipping a beat.
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“You should try it. If you’re not a great believer in buses. If your experience of buses is one of those that amble around the back roads somewhere, try this. It shows you what buses can do.
“Part of its secret is that its an express bus. It doesn’t stop every 100 metres. That’s what makes it quick.”
Listen to the full interview with Don Alexander in the latest episode of the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Of course, buses are not the only part of Alexander’s new job as Bristol’s new transport supremo.
He inherits the cabinet role for transport from Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, who as recently as March has committed to press ahead with plans for a £4 billion underground railway.
Alexander, who lives in Sea Mills, says that he will be “looking at cleaner air for the centre of the city. I’ll be looking at faster public transport for people.
“Cycling is very important but you have to remember I’m a councillor from the estates so I don’t want anyone to be left out.
“I don’t want anyone to feel that the improvements or the changes that we make are there for the benefit of people in the centre of the city, because actually people need access to work, people need to be able to get around with their tools… so we need to achieve a lot of different things.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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