"Motorists need to have confidence that there will be enough room on public transport for them to travel in comfort and not like sardines

Paul Watters, AA

Half a million vehicles cross Bristol every working day but average speeds in the city have dropped to just 11mph at peak times.

In the AA survey, 67% of drivers said they used Bristol city centre's roads at least one day a week, with 20% using them five days a week.

But bus use in Bristol is also among the lowest in Britain, and in the survey 49% said the current system of public transport was unacceptable.

Bristol City Council admits that there are congestion problems and the situation needs to be addressed.

Spokesman Simon Caplan said: "It's the people creating congestion who complain about it, but we want something down to ease it.

Improving transport

"It is a historic city and we have narrow main routes into the city centre. What we want is to build new facilities to reduce the need to use the car.

"We're not anti-motorist. We want to strike a balance between motor car users and everyone else."

One scheme to be introduced to improve public transport is the use of trams.

The council plans to have six tram lines covering all of Bristol's travel to work areas and said that it would not introduce any charges before the first tram lines are running.

It hopes to have its first tram line up and working by 2003.

500,000 vehicles cross Bristol each week day

Mr Caplan said: "What we are saying is 'no tolls before trams', and there will be no plans to bring in charges unless there are positive improvements to public transport."

However, the ideas of charges into the city have not been ruled out.

"If it looks viable and sensible and done in order to improve transport then we and other cities will look at it."

The council also said that it had not set a figure for such tolls if they are introduced.

"It's far too early to state a specific figure, but it would be subject to consultation."

Paul Watters, AA Head of Roads and Transport policy, said: "It is clear that motorists want to see real improvements to public transport before any charging scheme is introduced.

"Motorists need to have confidence that public transport will not only be clean, quick and cheap, but also there will be enough room on it for them to travel in comfort and not like sardines."