Getting around Bristol isn’t always easy, especially if you live in one of the city’s underserved neighbourhoods. Whether it’s unreliable buses, expensive fares, or the simple fact that some areas are just harder to reach, transport is more than just a way to get from A to B. It shapes who gets to access jobs, healthcare, education, and culture. And it’s not working equally for everyone.
The Bristol Transport Project (BTP) is a research and community engagement project led by a group of researchers based at the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. We’re also working in partnership with community organisations and civic partners across the city. Together, we’re asking: how can we make Bristol’s transport system more equitable, accessible, and inclusive – particularly for communities that are currently underserved? In other words, what happens when getting around becomes a barrier, and what could it look like to change that?
This project is grounded in conversations with communities, local organisations, transport providers, and policymakers. We are especially interested in understanding how transport inequality affects economic access and quality of life. We are also exploring what role community-led solutions can play in shaping the future of transport in Bristol. As part of this, we’ll be running a series of events, including town halls and workshops, where we’ll hear directly from residents, service users, policymakers, and providers.
The project is supported by funding from Research England and led by Ruth Badru (Economics, University of Bristol) and supported by a wider research team and a fantastic group of collaborators across the city, including:
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Dr. Adebusola Adetoye (UWE)
- Dr. Trivik Verma (University of Bristol)
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Dr. Satadru Mukherjee (University of Bristol)
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Dr. Yue Yin (University of Bristol)
- Dr. Melisa Williams Higgins (University of Bristol)
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Dr Dorothea (Thea) Mueller
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Dr Emilia Melville (WestACT)
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David Andrews (WETA)
What’s coming up?
We are hosting a Bristol Transport Town Hall on Tuesday, 16 April 2025, a community-facing event that will bring together residents, policy leads, transport providers, and researchers for an evening of open discussion and exchange. If you’re interested in transport, access, or the future of our city, we’d love to see you there (sign up Here).
We are also currently extending the project’s reach into communities and areas across the city that have been identified as experiencing the highest levels of transport poverty. We’re doing this with care, working alongside local groups and residents to ensure the project remains rooted in real, lived experiences.
This blog will be a home for updates, reflections, and shared insights as the work progresses. Whether you’re a resident, policymaker, student, researcher, or someone simply curious about Bristol’s transport future, we hope you’ll follow along and get involved.
Thanks for stopping by.
Let’s rethink how Bristol moves, together.