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Youth climate groups to march to WECA office to demand ‘free, fair buses’
Local activist groups are planning to march directly to WECA’s offices in September, in a protest calling for better bus services across the West of England.
The alliance, formed of climate groups Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate (BYS4C) and Extinction Rebellion Youth Bristol (XRYB) will hold a rally on College Green on September 9.
The rally will include speakers and campaigners from across the region, followed by a march at 2pm. Protesters will walk through the city centre to the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) offices in Redcliffe.
Supporters of the protest already confirmed include Nailsea Climate Emergency Group, Bristol Students for Transport, Winterbourne and Frome Valley Environmental Group and Ditch First Bus.
The rally is a continuation of work already undertaken by local campaigners, with Reclaim Our Bus launching a petition earlier this month to franchise the local bus network.
The main changes to services being called for by BYS4C and XRYB are:
- Demand for free travel within the West of England and North Somerset for all those under 25, all students and all apprentices
- Demand a fairer bus service, including reversing the cuts to bus routes and improving working conditions for drivers
- Demand that WECA follows suit with other local combined authorities around the UK and franchises the bus network, putting power back into the hands of local people and allowing our buses to be run for the good of everyone – not for private profit
Campaigners say franchising local bus networks would return power to the community by ensuring they fall under control of the local authority rather than private companies.
Hannah, 22, a local youth campaigner, said: “Local government can take control of the network, preventing route and service cuts, integrating different routes, and lowering fares with these gained efficiencies.”
The West of England area has experienced dramatic cuts and changes to bus services over the past year as a result of high inflation.
Bristol-based student Sam, 20, highlighted the struggles that many face: “Our local buses are in dire state. Dozens of route cuts have isolated people without cars from local services, education, jobs and socialising, especially in rural areas, affecting the young, elderly and working classes.”
First Bus bosses insist they are “continuing to invest in improving bus services across Bristol and the West of England.”
But many young people believe the changes made so far have not been enough for those that rely on the city’s buses.
Main photo: XR Youth Bristol
Read next:
- Two new bus routes promise to make cross-city travel ‘easier and cheaper’
- Petition launched to ‘reclaim Bristol’s buses’
- First bus boss on the state of Bristol’s bus services
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