People travelling in parts of Bristol and South Gloucestershire will see the early signs of spring this week, thanks to new artwork inspired by local nature installed at more of the region’s travel hubs.
The travel hubs are intended to better connect people, communities, and businesses with more sustainable transport options. They bring together bus services with other forms of transport, such as rental e-bikes and e-scooters – making it simple and efficient to change between modes of transport in the course of the same journey.
More than just places to catch a bus, travel hubs are envisioned as vibrant spaces that help to enhance our streets and public areas. Working hand-in-hand with residents and artists, seven of the ten hubs now feature unique creative works, reflecting nature, community diversity, and local history.
Artwork can be seen on and alongside the seating areas at the following places:
- Arnside Road: a nature-themed design based on the changing of the seasons, by artists Anna Haydock-Wilson, Bex Glover and Luke Palmer
- Filton Church: this mural shows a timeline of travellers from ancient Britain to the current day, created by illustrator Dave Bain
- Gainsborough Square: mural artists Graft, together with Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust and residents, created a wildlife-themed design
- Horfield Library: artist ‘Billy Colours’ aka Alex Godwin used icons and shapes to convey movement
- Lyde Green Park & Ride: illustrator Zoe Power created a floral design, reflecting the names of local roads including Hollyhock Lane and Burdock Road
- Portway Park & Ride: another work byZoe Power, inspired by the natural environment around the river and estuary, featuring birds and plants visible at Lamplighters Marsh Nature Reserve
- Ridingleaze: Studio Meraki and Blue Roll Press developed designs inspired by neighbourhood woods and parks, Roman mosaics and a nod to traditional playground games
Further artwork also adorns the exterior of The Library of Things, adjacent to the travel hub at UWE Bristol.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“We recently set out ambitions for better, more reliable bus services and more trains across our region, as well as looking at mass transit options. But we also know that journeys don’t always begin and end on a bus or train, so aim to make it easier for people to connect between different transport options.
“In the last year, we’ve added a range of extra facilities such as new seating, phone charging points, e-bike and e-scooter parking, and parcel lockers at ten travel hubs to improve people’s journeys and make life more convenient.
“It’s great that people from the community have been able to get involved in this process through the creation of these new artworks, celebrating their local identity, drawing on the West’s creativity, and helping to give public spaces a more welcoming feel.”
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said:
“It’s great to see our city’s travel hubs brought to life with a welcome splash of colour, giving talented local artists and residents the chance to showcase their creativity and community pride.
“We want to create an integrated city transport system where different ways of travelling connect seamlessly with one another. Bristol’s travel hubs play a vital part of that vision, especially when linked with sites such as our recently renovated Portway Park & Ride, which itself has become a key hub for the city.
“We’d like to thank the West of England Combined Mayoral Authority for working with us to provide residents with even more sustainable and convenient travel choices across Bristol.”
Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said:
“The vibrant new artwork brings a burst of colour to our public spaces, celebrating nature, the environment and the character of each community. Travel hubs make it easier for people to move around sustainably, confidently and conveniently. By bringing together buses, e‑bikes, e‑scooters, and useful facilities like seating, lighting, Wi‑Fi and charging points, we’re giving people more choice in how they travel around the area. We want to widen the reach of transport hubs in South Gloucestershire to make sustainable travel accessible to even more of our communities.”
The ten travel hubs have been delivered with Government funding from the Department for Transport. The hubs were implemented as a trial, using the experience to directly improve the design, implementation, and operation of future travel hubs around the country.
Seven of the hubs have been recognised with Gold accreditations from CoMoUK, the national charity for shared transport, meeting their criteria for “places that bring sustainable transport options together, while improving the public realm for all”.
In awarding UWE Bristol the Mobility Hub of the Year 2025 prize, judges from the City Transport and Traffic Innovation Awards noted: “The integration of multi-mode transport to provide bike, scooter and bus transport hubs linked together with access to public Wi-Fi and phone charging facilities really delivered for the benefit of residents and the University.”
