Marvin Rees has rejected calls for "confused" motorists fined £60 for driving through the new bus gate on Bristol Bridge to be reimbursed.
The city mayor insists a period of grace where no fixed penalty notices were issued gave people enough time to get used to the council’s pedestrianisation of the Old City and that the signage is clear.
He was asked during a monthly Facebook Live on Wednesday evening (January 13) by resident Sandra Veziano: “Are you going to rescind the numerous tickets sent to drivers confused by the bus-gate fiasco in the city centre?”
Mr Rees said: “I wouldn’t call it a fiasco.
“What we have done is something very bold and needed in pedestrianising the Old City and making Bristol Bridge and Baldwin Street inaccessible to private cars and just there for public transport and taxis.
“It is the kind of change the city has needed, and that means introducing bus gates.
“We thought there would be a period of adjustment so initially we did not fine people as soon as the bus gate was introduced.
“When private cars did go through the bus gate they would receive a warning in the post.
“There was a lot of publicity and warning.
“We believe the signage is clear on the roads.
“It is all in line with the Department for Transport’s regulations.
“We gave a transition period, lots of notice, lots of profile and on balance it was a fair approach, meeting a challenge the city needed to meet.”
The traffic restrictions on Bristol Bridge and Baldwin Street were introduced on August 2 in a bid to cut emissions and encourage people to walk and cycle in the city centre.
Warning letters were initially sent to drivers flouting the new rules for several weeks before Bristol City Council began issuing £60 fines, which reduce by half if paid within 14 days.
Private motorists are banned from crossing the bridge, entering either end of Baldwin Street and turning left from Union Street into Rupert Street.
Buses, taxis, bicycles and motorbikes are exempt from the restrictions, and vehicles heavier than 7.5 tonnes can still cross Bristol Bridge and enter Baldwin Street.
Cameras have been installed to catch unauthorised vehicles.
