East Street in Bedminster has long been labelled a pedestrian and cycle zone. Between seven in the morning and seven in the evening, only buses and loading vehicles are allowed through. But despite the signs — and warnings that police will enforce the rules — many drivers simply ignore them.
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00:00A South Bristol shopping street could soon see a high-tech crackdown as frustration mounts over safety and rule-breaking concerns.
00:10East Street in Bedminster has long been labelled a pedestrian and cycle zone between 7 in the morning and 7 in the evening.
00:19Only buses and loading vehicles are allowed through.
00:23But, despite the signs and warnings that police will enforce the rules, many drivers simply ignore them.
00:31Bristol City Council says it's had enough.
00:35After what it calls an unacceptable number of collisions, including crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists,
00:43the council now plans to install an automatic enforcement camera, one that can recognise number plates.
00:50In a recent survey sent to local businesses, the council wrote East Street is a pedestrian and cycle zone between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
01:02This is frequently not observed, resulting in an unacceptable number of collisions.
01:09The road is also a counter-flow cycle route, meaning bikes and scooters move against traffic.
01:15But, with limited space, that's often a recipe for danger.
01:19Buses trying to pass bikes sometimes force riders onto the pavement.
01:25Things worsened back in 2022, when nearby Malago Road closed for roadworks.
01:32Drivers looking to dodge the lengthy detour turned to East Street, and many never stopped.
01:39If it gets the green light, enforcement could begin soon.
01:42Pause.
01:56If it gets the green light,˙