Buses connect communities and bring us together
Buses connect us to the people we love, the things we need and the places that matter. That’s why this year, our Christmas Appeal focuses on raising vital funds for the work we are doing to ensure that every community has a decent bus service.
I’m Jess, and I’ve been working for Campaign for Better Transport for more than 15 years. One reason why I’m passionate about public transport is that I live in a village which has just one bus into town each day and one bus back. It’s very precious to those of us who use it, but not many people do because it’s so infrequent. To catch a more regular bus, I must walk or cycle a mile and a half on roads without pavements, which is just not possible for many of my neighbours. As my children get older, the lack of buses is really hampering their independence.
Reliable, accessible, affordable buses mean we can all stay connected, no matter our age or circumstances, and more buses mean less traffic on our roads and a brighter future for our planet, as Morgan told us…
But in many places, bus services are infrequent, unreliable, or non-existent – as David knows only too well.
Simple things, like a bus stop with seating, a roof and an up-to-date timetable are also missing in many parts of the country. Our Better Bus Stops report revealed the extent of the problem:
- Only half of people said their nearest bus stop has a shelter
- Only 31 per cent have an up-to-date timetable at their bus stop
- Just 16 per cent have live updates about bus arrivals.
Many bus stops lack even a simple sign showing the name of the stop. This matters, because passengers like Francesca deserve better…
It matters because better bus stops would tempt more people to use buses. For the sake of our clogged streets, clean air and the climate, we need to be doing all we can to make public transport attractive.
With your help, we recently took a big step towards better buses
When the Transport Select Committee – the group of MPs which advises the Government on transport policy – began an inquiry into improving buses we sprang into action. We submitted written evidence, and we were invited to come in and speak directly to the Committee.
When the Committee published its final report, we were thrilled to see that it included our key asks. It recommended that the Government should publish guidance on minimum service levels to ensure that every community has a usable bus service. And it should properly fund local authorities to provide them.
And it recommended having a national standard for bus stops, as we called for in our Better Bus Stops report.
We are so glad to have been able to get these important asks in front of the people who shape our transport system. We couldn’t have had this influence without our wonderful supporters, so thank you.
We know the issues bus passengers face, but we also know what to do to improve bus services, make bus stops better and ensure that every community has a bus service they can rely on.
If you can, please make a donation to our Christmas Appeal. Your donation will help us to:
- Work with more councils to improve local bus services
- Make bus stops better
- Reconnect cut-off communities
- Keep campaigning until every community has a bus service they can rely on.
Your donation will contribute to our campaigning around buses and Campaign for Better Transport’s work in general.
