Bristol Against Carspreading launches to support council efforts against SUVs

The grassroots group Bristol Against Carspreading launched earlier this year to build popular support for measures to tackle carspreading in the city.

That the city’s council is exploring possibilities to reduce SUV use has been confirmed by chair of the transport policy committee, Cllr Ed Plowden. What remains to be seen is exactly what policies will be announced and how these will be implemented. It is hoped that the proposed Kerbside Strategy, slated for publication later this year, will contain policies to reduce SUV use in the city.

Using data on SUV ownership provided by Clean Cities, Bristol Against Carspreading estimates that there were around 55,800 SUVs on Bristol’s roads in 2025, up from 28,000 in 2015 - a nearly 100% increase over the decade.

The council has an ambitious Road Safety Plan for zero road deaths by 2030, as well as plans to reduce car use overall - to ease congestion and reduce pollution and carbon emissions. The city has a significant pothole problem, made worse by heavier SUVs taking to the streets. Addressing carspreading is an integral part of all of these goals.

Bristol Against Carspreading seeks to follow positive examples of local campaigning in Cardiff and Lambeth, where residents have raised the profile of the carspreading problem, as well as popularising the solutions.