News / Extinction Rebellion Youth Bristol

XR Youth protesters target Airport Flyer bus

By Martin Booth  Saturday Nov 5, 2022

Activists from Extinction Rebellion Youth Bristol blocked a bus from leaving Temple Meads on Saturday afternoon.

The bus they chose to block was carefully chosen: it was an Airport Flyer operated by First and one that was returning from the airport to the city centre so no passengers were at risk of missing their flights.

The action was also timed to take place just days ahead of the High Court hearing arguments on the expansion of Bristol Airport.

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This could could see it a step closer to increasing its capacity from nine million to 12 million passengers each year.

Extinction Rebellion Youth Bristol are demanding free bus travel within the West of England for all those under the age of 25, all students and all apprentices, with one banner held up by the bus reading ‘fair travel, not air travel’.

XR Youth spokesperson Torin Menzies said: “We need to revolutionise our public transport, including vastly improving the state of the West of England’s frankly awful bus network.

“Sadly, First Bus are more interested in serving the potentially expanding Bristol Airport instead of our local communities, cutting bus routes across the region whilst increasing the Airport Flyer service.

“Bristol Airport expansion will increase flights and emissions at a time of climate emergency, as well as worsening air quality, and First Bus are actively supporting these plans. What we need is fair travel, not air travel.”

XR Youth Bristol activists prevented the bus from leaving Temple Meads – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo: Martin Booth

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