An Inverness environmentalist has claimed motorists have only themselves to blame for traffic congestion on the Kessock Bridge.
Chris Scatchard said more drivers should be prepared to share cars or use public transport to alleviate rush-hour queues.
He has called on Inverness to be “the first city in the UK where drivers take action to sort out their own congestion problems”.
His plea comes as Highland Council is looking at ways to reduce traffic on the bridge when major resurfacing work begins in March 2011.
The local authority is examining a range of options, including reintroducing ferries across the Beauly Firth, and laying on more buses between the Black Isle and Inverness.
Mr Scatchard, a member of the Inverness Transition Towns movement and Friends of the Earth Scotland, said a survey done on the bridge on Monday revealed that only three cars out of 100 were carrying a passenger other than the driver.
He said: “I really don’t understand why these drivers complain when they themselves are the cause of the problem.
“Let’s think of common-sense solutions which don’t cost the taxpayer or even drivers money to bail drivers out of their own mess. What about car-sharing, using public transport or cycling?”
Mr Scatchard, of Telford Road, Inverness, said motorists should also not make the excuse of public transport being inaccessible from their homes.
He said: “Why not drive to the nearest place where there is somewhere to park safely, then bus in and back?
“Until people start to use them, bus companies won’t put on more buses or new routes, and they’ll never reduce the fares until the buses are fuller.”
A public forum to discuss ways to minimise disruption on the bridge will be held at Culbokie Primary School on Thursday from 6-8pm.
Black Isle councillor David Alston said: “When the Black Isle members were advised of the necessary bridge resurfacing we were all eager that the public got involved in discussing measures on how to best cope with the disruption.
“We are keen to see positive outcomes in the exercise, and believe a legacy might be that more people in the future make greater use of public transport and car sharing.”
The 27-year-old bridge carries a daily average of 28,300 vehicles, with that total rising to 32,000 in August.
The road surface is deteriorating rapidly and Transport Scotland says maintenance work is essential.