Cheers Drive!
It’s almost the end of Catch the Bus Month, and what a month for buses it’s been. With some significant legislation for buses set to appear in Parliament this autumn, it’s been the perfect time to celebrate our most used form of transport.
Thank your driver
During our second annual Better Transport Week this year, we asked you to send in your messages of thanks to your bus drivers. We were inundated with anecdotes of kind and helpful bus drivers who’ve helped you travel across the country.
Here’s a selection of our favourite messages:
“We have a fantastic bus service by TrentBarton and generally all the drivers on the Mainline service between Nottingham and Bingham are courteous, helpful. I particularly want to mention Jon who seems to know everyone, Gillian who will always wave when she passes us walking into the village and Jim who always wishes us a good day when we catch the bus on a Thursday morning to Bingham Market. Since we got rid of our car the buses are a lifeline with easy access into Nottingham passing the train station if we wish to venture further afield. Thank you TrentBarton drivers.”
-Martin, Nottingham
“Thanks to the two drivers who helped recover my lost phone back before an important interview. Together, they helped me get my phone back within just three hours. Big thanks to Sam and his boss at Bromley Bus garage who called the central team to find my phone, as soon as I arrived I got it back, thanks to you!”
-George, South London
“Our local buses have lots of lakeland tourists and most drivers have endless patience answering their questions and advising them. Some of them are real characters and I sometimes sit in the front seat for the entertainment. They also have such a great responsibility, driving a huge vehicle with so many passengers in all weathers.”
-Anne, Cumbria
“Many thanks to the bus drivers on the number five bus route between Chester and Wrexham. I catch this bus to and from work whenever I can. It makes a pleasant change from driving myself which can be tiring and stressful. I can sit back and enjoy looking at green fields and trees going past instead. The drivers are always very friendly and helpful. And it helps to know I’m doing my bit for the environment. Thank you drivers!”
-Anna, Chester
Better Buses Bill is heading to Parliament
Earlier in the month, the Transport Secretary Louise Haigh announced the first step of the Government’s new Better Buses Bill. A series of measures was unveiled that will give all local authorities in England the power to control and run their own bus services.
Since the 1980s, buses outside of London have been deregulated and privatised, leading to differing levels of provision and services across the country. In 2017, mayoral combined authorities were given powers to bring buses under local control with franchising agreements, and Greater Manchester was the first to do so last year. The results speak for themselves: in the first six months of franchising, ridership on Bee Network buses rose by five per cent, punctuality improved, and passenger revenue was £3 million more than budgeted for.
The Better Buses Bill means that all local authorities will soon have the power to determine bus routes, service frequencies, fares, and infrastructure. It means being able to run buses in line with the needs of communities, and that local governments will be able to put profits made by the most popular bus routes towards supporting the less popular, transforming bus provision in more rural areas.
While this is a very welcome Bill, many local authorities won’t be able to take advantage of these new powers without long-term funding to support them. No community should be without a reliable bus service, and the Better Buses Bill should be seen as an opportunity to provide that. Buses can transform an area, helping people to access jobs and education, keeping us connected and fighting social isolation. That’s why we’re also calling on the Government to introduce a minimum level of bus service provision for all communities and to make providing socially and economically necessary services a statutory requirement.
Better Bus Stops
Bus stops matter. When they have clear timetables on display and live information screens, and they’re comfortable and well-maintained, catching the bus is a pleasure. As part of a new campaign we’re launching, we want to hear about your best bus stops. If you know of a bus stop with great, clear information on display, please tell us about it!
Title image: Kimi Gill
