A sustainable urban transport system needs to have at its core a reliable means of moving large numbers of people unimpeded by road traffic. Before World War II Bristol could boast an extensive tram network, but the combination of bombing and an increase in motor traffic led to its abandonment during the war.

In recent decades the idea of a supertram has dominated discussion of the city's mass transit needs, but now the West of England Partnership, the body responsible for the region's transport policy, is planning to introduce a network of dedicated busways to be used by low emission vehicles that combine the comfort and reliability of a tram with the flexibility of a bus.

BRT got off to a bad start, PR-wise, with the news that one route was to run along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, but this particular scheme was quickly shelved. In general, BRT is cost effective and flexible, with reductions in CO2 emissions similar to those offered by tram or light rail systems.

Construction of the first route, from Temple Meads to Ashton Vale, could begin as early as 2011, encouraging commuters to use the Long Ashton Park and Ride site and reducing traffic congestion.