Transport is the burning issue on many Bristolians’ lips at the moment. What with the recent controversy of the Bristol and Bath Railway Path bus route, vicious rumours of a congestion charge to tackle the city centre’s crippling traffic and with public transport providers pushing up fares every other week, the city’s only ray of hope seems to be cycling. To get to grips with all of Bristol’s transport options though, SY Magazine has staged its very own, hugely unscientific, Bristol Travel Challenge! Which is fastest? Which is cheapest? Which is nicest? Which is safest?

Five eager travellers set out from The Arches on Gloucester Road at the same time in the afternoon, all aiming to get to the Tobacco Factory on North Street, Southville. One walked, one drove, one cycled, one went by bus and one took the train and then the ferry. Here are the results:

Walk
Total Time Taken: 48mins 11secs
Money Paid: £0
Enjoyment Level: 6/10
Safety Rating: 8/10
Route Taken: As the crow flys, taking in some very quite and some very busy roads.
Other notes: Very enjoyable for a nice day but quite an effort, wouldn’t want to do it every day or in bad weather.

Car
Total Time Taken: 29mins 44sec
Money Paid: ~£2 for fuel + vehicle costs
Enjoyment Level: 2/10
Safety Rating: 9/10
Route Taken: Down Stokes Croft, through Redcliffe, across the river and down Coronation Road.
Other notes: Frustratingly slow and busy at points and generally a very ugly journey. Plus parking was difficult.

Cycle
Total Time Taken: 15mins 53secs
Money Paid: £0
Enjoyment Level: 8/10
Safety Rating: 5/10
Route Taken: Through Stokes Croft and along the Harbour
Other notes: Very pleasant and if you chose your route carefully you can do most of the route through parks, nowhere near the nasty roads.

Bus
Total Time Taken: 53mins 06secs
Money Paid: £4.30 (First Day Ticket)
Enjoyment Level: 3/10
Safety Rating: 7/10
Route Taken: Took the #76 from the Arches to the Centre, then changed to get the #24 to North Street.
Other notes: Sat in a lot of traffic feeling very miserable and had to wait in a couple of grim bus stops with some equally grim people.

Train & Ferry
Total Time Taken: 1hr 41mins 26secs (with very favourable timings)
Money Paid: £3.40 (Train was £1.50 and Ferry was £1.90)
Enjoyment Level: Train 6/10, Ferry 10/10
Safety Rating: 8/10
Route Taken: Took the train from Montpelier to Temple Meads, then got a ferry to the Fountains, then swapped for another ferry to The Cottage Inn, then walked 10mins to North Street.
Other notes: Quite a bit of waiting around at various train and ferry stations but the ferry is the absolutely perfect way to travel, completely worth the wait.

So there’s the conclusive (very inconclusive) proof! Cycling is the quickest way to travel across Bristol, walking the cheapest (well done, Sherlock), driving the safest and going by ferry the most enjoyable. Hoorah!

Matthew Whittle www.matthewwhittleblog.blogspot.com