Transport has long been a subject of intense debate in Bristol, and today the years of discussion are bearing fruit. A range of ambitious schemes will transform the way people travel to and around the city, encouraging citizens to drive less and instead to walk, cycle or use public transport.

Traffic congestion in the centre of the city has already been reduced by some 10% in recent years, so planned changes to the region's transport infrastructure will accelerate a trend that is already firmly established.

In June 2008 Bristol was named the UK's first Cycling City, an accolade reflecting the city's vibrant bike culture and a reward for decades of work by grass roots organisations like Sustrans. Now Bristol has an opportunity, unique among UK cities, to emulate cycling capitals like Copenhagen.

In a complementary move, the city council is working with the neighbouring authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset to transform public transport in the region. The Greater Bristol Bus Network is set to expand dramatically, with investment to the tune of £70m, and a similar level of investment is going into a new Bus Rapid Transit network.

Meanwhile Bristol continues to attract the best and most creative thinkers in transport and urban planning. The University of the West of England is rapidly becoming an international centre of excellence in this area; in 2008 it hosted a groundbreaking one-day conference on Carfree Communities as well as the 5th Cycling and Society Symposium.

In street design, too, the city is playing a major role. How many passengers entering and leaving Temple Meads station are aware that the forecourt is cited by The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) as an example of excellent design? The casual intermingling of traffic and pedestrians reflects the philosophy of Shared Space, a people-first approach to street design and traffic engineering which is being pioneered across the UK by Hamilton-Baillie Associates of Bristol.

Other innovations are proving popular in the city. Bristol has the fastest growing City Car Club in the UK, with more than 1000 motorists paid up members. Less cars on the road means less congestion, which in turn encourages people to walk or cycle.