Public bus transport

Public transport as part of an integrated transport policy is seen as the key means by which dependence on the car can be reduced, however, outside London and some specific locations bus patronage is falling. This trend needs to be reversed as part of the effort to reduce congestion, consequent delays and the adverse environmental impacts on the road network.  Because schemes to provide quality bus partnerships have not come to fruition changes to legislation are being sought to ensure bus operators are accountable to local authorities so that local access needs can be better served and bus patronage increase.

Where does CSS stand?

CSS members, representing their authorities, work with bus operators and provide subsidies to non-commercial routes to try and ensure that services being provided are targeted at local need. This is difficult in that since deregulation of bus services in 1985 the bus operators have only limited accountability to the local authorities charged with improving bus services as a key part of integrated transport policies and demand management.  The success in growing passenger numbers in London where the same restrictive framework is not in place is noted.

CSS believes that public transport provision needs to evolve to enable the following

• A shift in pricing so that public transport becomes a more viable alternative to the car
• Bus operators that are appropriately accountable to those authorities delivering integrated transport
• Bus operator and local authority expertise to be combined and focused on identification and delivery of local needs; safety, frequency, affordability, quality of services and accessible by all.
• A move towards ‘smart’ ticketing between modes of transport and applied nationally
• Concessionary fares, on the basis of free / discounted travel, to be applied so as to ease the burden of administration and to ensure funding is fairly distributed
• The further development of public information / timetable systems from web site to real time public information systems on the ground
• The integration of community and school transport with demand responsive and scheduled bus services to allow the link between urban / employment areas and major services and access to the more remote rural areas
• A better targeted use of subsidies from local authorities to ensure best use of available funding.