Friends of the Earth Birmingham Action Briefing Oct 98/Nov 98

Bus Information

Envious of Londoners with their Underground Map ? Perhaps you'd like to see a similar network under the proposed line of BNRR Toll Motorway. You won't, but you can have the next best: a Birmingham Bus Map.

The new Travel WM (Wander Map), rolled out in September 1998, is a colourful creation. It is a boon to the environmentally aware or to the traveller without a car in Birmingham. The Evening Mail reported that Friends of the Earth 'will be sticking route numbers, maps and timetables on stops where they are missing. A campaigner with the group said "A Bus service without information is only half a service".' That quote however is from April 1997.

A map lurking in Friends of the Earth archives is a copy of one of those pasted to shelters in Bearwood. Entitled 'Major Birmingham Bus Routes, FOE 1997', it predates the Wander Map. Thanks for listening Travel WM.

One alarming thought - the map works whilst Travel WM runs buses to most places. If this domination of the routes were to be reversed, we wonder if a blank patch would appear on the map.? Does it make sense to avoid advertising another company by mentioning their route? If you can't start or finish your journey, then you wont make it at all. The bus operators all lose custom because the journey does not appear possible by bus. Better then to join forces. Perhaps Integrated Transport is the answer!

John Hall

You can view Travel West Midlands timetables on the net at www.travelwm.co.uk

Note: For the full picture, phone for public transport information on 0121 200 2700 the Centro Hotline