Readers may have heard the 'Bee Network' mentioned quite frequently, although what this proposal actually means may be less clear.  

The Bee Network is often labelled as an 'integrated, London-style' transport network, involving cycle routes, buses and trams.  

In an effort to reduce car usage, the proposal seeks to make these three travel options more viable and closely linked than they currently are. As the Bee Network proposal states: "By giving people a true alternative to the car, we will tackle many of our health, congestion and air quality issues in one go."

What would this 'integration' look like? For one, buses would come under local control. In the news this week was a new fleet of 50 Bee Network zero-emission buses, set to deploy in Bury, Bolton, Wigan, and Salford. Stockport, meanwhile, will see buses come under local control in January 2025. 

These buses will also have integrated fares and ticketing, across an app and a touch-in/touch-out system. 

Buses and trams will thus fall under the same Bee Network system, becoming far less independent of one another. There are also plans to integrate trains into the network in 2030.  

Buses will come under local control in Stockport in January 2025 (Image - Alasdair Perry)

Another landmark change which the Bee Network introduces is over 1,000 miles of integrated cycle routes across Greater Manchester.  

In Stockport, 123 new or upgraded crossings are either completed, in development or proposed, enabling 84% of the population to use the Bee Network. Eight miles of Bee Network on busy roads are similarly in the works, including protected junctions and links. 

As well as crossings and road modifications, the cycle network also involves new cycleways and routes, signage, bike hubs, small parks, and more.

Works have been completed in Bramhall, the town centre, and Cheadle, whilst works are under development in Edgeley, the Heatons, and in the pipeline for Romiley and Offerton.  

There has been controversy, however, around the Heatons Cycle Link, which cuts through the Heaton Mersey Common nature reserve, with some residents who felt opposed to the ideas saying they were 'ignored'.  

One cycle route cuts across Heaton Mersey Common, which has caused some controversy (Image - Alasdair Perry)

By way of contrast, arguments made in favour of the routes are many.  

"The Bee Network network will connect every community in Greater Manchester, opening up our neighbourhoods and making it far easier to travel on foot or by bike to school, to the shops, to work", a statement in the Bee Network proposal says. 

"This vision is not anti-car; it is about giving people an attractive alternative, especially for short journeys within our communities."

The proposal also states: "The Mayor's decision to allocate £160 million to kick-start the project means that Greater Manchester's spend on cycling and walking is now at least £15 per head per year, almost putting us on a par with great liveable cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

"We intend to increase this number significantly with match funding and new innovative strategies to fund infrastructure.

"The city region shares common problems that are being felt across Britain — an obesity epidemic, air quality issues, and streets that are often clogged with motor traffic during peak hours. With congestion alone costing businesses in Greater Manchester £1.3 billion annually, we cannot afford to go on with business as usual."

Similarly, a map on the Transport for Greater Manchester website emphasises that it is possible to get to a number of different places within 15 minutes with the new network.  

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also said of integrated networks: "This is what a city in America — Portland, Oregon — started doing in the 1990s, going against the grain. Now they are reaping the benefits. 

"Portland residents now drive 20% less than the rest of the USA, saving them money which they instead spend locally on recreation, contributing to their local economy."

What do you think of the new network? Let us know on our social links below.

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