Bristol Airport Drivers Fear Stopping for Pedestrians, Says Motorcyclist
A motorcyclist raises safety concerns about Bristol Airport’s no stopping zone for pedestrians and drivers alike
Bristol, UK, Motorcyclist, Airport, Safety, Pedestrians
Bristol: A motorcyclist is sounding the alarm about the no stopping zone at Bristol Airport. He thinks it’s a dangerous spot for both pedestrians and drivers. The issue came to light when he got fined for stopping to check a tariff board in that area.
Rob Hinks, who rode his motorcycle to the airport to pick up a friend, claims the parking directions were all wrong. He arrived on June 28, 2024, and was confused by the signs.
The airport is in the middle of a big £400 million upgrade, which includes a new public transport hub and a multi-storey car park. This expansion follows their successful bid for more space.
Rob says the no stopping zone is a real safety concern. He noticed a no entry sign for motorbikes when he got there, even though he checked the website beforehand.
He explained, “I saw the sign saying no motorcycles, so I had to do a U-turn and head to the short stay car park.” He briefly stopped to check the tariff board but was told he couldn’t park there either.
After some back and forth, he finally parked in the Silver Zone but got charged shortly after. Luckily, after he raised his concerns, the charge was canceled, which he appreciated.
Rob feels the airport’s signage is lacking and thinks it makes the place unsafe. He said, “The no stopping zone isn’t safe. It’s hard to read the signs, and that can be risky for motorcyclists.”
He added that drivers are scared to stop for pedestrians because they fear getting fined, which makes it unsafe for everyone. “I felt unsafe,” he said.
Later, he chose to fly from London Gatwick instead, saying, “Bristol Airport’s issues are self-inflicted.”
Bristol Airport responded, saying they’ve had ongoing issues with vehicles stopping in unsafe spots. They’ve put up signs to prevent stopping, picking up, or dropping off.
They explained that the road is now a single lane in each direction, which increases the risk of congestion and accidents. A spokesperson said they’ve updated the signs to clarify that motorcyclists can park in the multi-storey car park and apologized for any confusion.
They also encouraged travelers to check their website for parking options, assuring that motorcyclists can park for free in the multi-storey car park.
Once the new public transport interchange is finished, drivers will have direct access to the multi-storey car park, and motorcycle bays will stay on the ground level.