You hit on another very good and concerning issue - the dominance in so many (most?) of these groups of older people and it's something that we at TravelWatch SouthWest are very much aware of.  Had you come along to our general meeting in October (which I think are the pictures you refer to) or our AGM in December (held online) ... you would have heard discussion of the concern and indeed activities looking to help address it.   And that concern is taken up at board level too.

How many had to take a day off?  Very few - and you break your own argument for a daytime meeting for local groups, infoman, by suggesting a daytime meeting for them.  My evidence at WWRUG with evening meetings suggests that moving to the daytime would only amplify the elderly and make the group even more unrepresentative.

No magic wand - and I appreciate that one of the most difficult things for any organisation or service is to reach people who want to be and could usefully be involved, but are put off to the extent of none-engagement by various hurdles.  And it is so important for the future to be aware of and address those hurdles.

 
Great Western railway which I presume this forum got its inspiration to be named after hold their AGM's in day light hours.

Looking at the photos from the recent Travel watch south west AGM,it seemed a very mature group,

not sure how many are in full time employment,let alone attend college and had to put in a request for a day off.

Keep hearing about mature drivers who don't want to drive nights times nowadays due eye sight not being as good as it use to be.

Not to mention those blinding LED highlights.

We are not all privileged to have a good transport net work in our area.

Who wants to stand on bus stops in the dark winter days waiting for a bus that may never arrive?

 
Thank you for your detailed and reasoned (as ever) reply, grahame.

Personally, I prefer the Bristol Rail Campaign (FoSBR) AGM to be held in the evening in Bristol. In the days when I was a commuter into Bristol, any daytime meeting would have required me taking a day's annual leave just to attend. Even now, in my retirement, I still have things to do during the day, so an evening in central Bristol for any meeting of a local transport group is appropriate.

I am a long-time supporter of FoSBR and I intend to, erm, attend that meeting on Wednesday 11 March. Not least because that will be my birthday, and it will enable one of my colleagues (of the squirrel variety) to buy me that pint he owes me.

 

I get a feeling of "deja vu" with this topic - think we have been there before.  However, times move on.  You're correct in saying that TWSW is daytime, and the recent Railfuture meeting in Yatton was too.  Those were choices made to help people attend, and on open invite.  Did we see you at either meeting though?

I am a Bristol Rail Campaign member and may come along on 11th March - and I will be posting up other March meeting dates today. Typically evenings for local campaign groups so that people don't have to take a day off work / college to attend, and daytime for meetings with a larger area catchment where some people need to travel a considerable distance to attend.

 
Could the AGM not be held during day light hours like GWR and Travel watch South West do?

 
Bristol Rail Campaign (FoSBR) will be holding their AGM on Weds 11th March 2026

This year's AGM will be held at Watershed, 1 Canons Road Bristol BS1 5TX (https://www.watershed.co.uk/)

Doors open 19.00 for 19.30 start.

Speakers and further details will be announced in due course.

Non-members welcome.