The roads in Bristol would be completely unrecognisable if everyone stopped using their cars and opted for the bus instead.
This is the message being put forward by the firm behind the MetroBus project, TravelWest, which is hoping to encourage drivers to swap their car for the bus or other forms of sustainable transport.
The company has released a striking photograph (pictured above), which illustrates the physical space individual cars take up on the road, and how this can be reduced if people switch to bikes or public transport.
When launched in the autumn, MetroBus buses will have the capacity to take up to 60 passengers at one time - and if every one of the seats was filled each morning, congestion in Bristol city centre could be a thing of the past.
At peak rush hour the average car in Bristol spends 23 per cent of its time stationary and will reach speeds of just 16mph through traffic when moving.
But by using its own lanes and having priority at traffic lights, MetroBus will pass stationary traffic and cut down journey times by up to 15 minutes.
Alongside time-saving benefits, a reduction in congestion would also mean a reduction in pollution levels – something which has been highlighted as a particular problem in Bristol.
Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council are currently carrying out a joint study into air quality in the authority areas, after shocking statistics found more than 300 people in Bristol die as a result of air pollution each year.
The city is considering the introduction of a London-style congestion charge zone which would help boost bus usage in Bristol.
A TravelWest spokesperson said: “Anything that reduces congestion has a positive impact on air quality – using a bus, sharing a car, cycling or walking all help to improve air quality by reducing the overall amount of traffic.
“MetroBus will provide a high quality, reliable alternative to the car, provides a separate road space for buses and taxis, allowing other vehicles more space on the main carriageways, helping to keep traffic moving.
“We can’t often see or smell pollution, but we all live with the consequences. Airborne particles of soot and metal from car exhausts cause skin and eye irritations, allergies and respiratory problems.
“Hydrocarbons mix with the air to create ozone, which at ground level inflames the lungs, causing chest pains, coughing and making it difficult to breathe. Carbon monoxide, another exhaust gas, is particularly dangerous to infants and people suffering from heart disease as it interferes with the blood’s ability to transport oxygen.”