[1] Bambang was also supportive of the establishment of a bus rapid transit network in Surabaya during his time as Mayor, working with the Indonesian central government to implement the transportation system.

[10][11] After Rismaharini became mayor, she came up with a new spatial plan for the city which favoured rail-based transport over BRT systems, causing tension with Bambang.

[8] In 2013, Bambang resigned from his office to participate in East Java's gubernatorial election, though he lost after winning just 12 percent of votes.

During his time in the position, he publicly opposed the party's selection of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as Jakarta's 2017 gubernatorial candidate.

[15] Bambang ran as a candidate for the People's Representative Council from East Java's 1st electoral district in the 2019 Indonesian legislative election.