"Better Buses for Brum" petition

Dear Liz - the petition has:

Please explain why you have always fully supported "bus on rails" Metro trams, together with your political party

"The Mayor has failed to secure enough money from his own government to fund transport properly."  NOT TRUE!

In fact, since 2017 when he was first elected, Andy Street, on behalf of Transport for W Midlands, fully supported by all political party colours (including those on the left and good eco-socialists, as I am), has secured many hundreds of millions of pounds in both price and in weight of greenhouse gas emissions for Metro trams to replace and duplicate bus and train services.  This is stupid and irresponsible and escalates the climate emergency.

Tram extensions are the second most expensive transport mode to construct after High Scam 2 that is the world's most expensive to construct.  The money should have been used to extend Fare-Free Public Transport from my old crocks age group to all you youngsters.  And, for all the bus priority measures on the nearside lane of dual carriageways to inconvenience thoughtless car commuters who don't need their cars for their work and should be using buses - buses having top priority.  This will help to free up road space for essential vehicle users.  Expand buses directly on roads (minus the railway tracks) without the grossly extravagant "bus on rails" trams blocking them!

Your actively pursued and extremely costly in finance and climate wrecking policy of "bus on rails" Metro trams is still planned to take precious housing land, the destruction of nature, trees, public open space and my wonderful, vertical guerrilla garden.  PLEASE STOP, CANCEL WBHE PHASE 2 FOREVER and DO BUS PRIORITY MEASURES as I have advised for very many years.

Please write back and explain why I am wrong and you are right, Liz.

Many thanks