That’s a wrap on Better Transport Week 2025 – and what a week it’s been!
With more than 40 events taking place across England and Wales, and more than 200 organisations involved, Better Transport Week 2025 was a roaring success!
From train stations to bus depots, from city centre hubs to rural pubs, from north to south and east to west – we were out there meeting people, hearing stories, and spotlighting the brilliant work already underway to make transport better, greener, fairer.
This year felt different. The energy, the breadth of activity, the number of people involved – it all added up to something really inspiring. There were events led by councils, operators, individuals, universities, employers, charities and campaigners. We had everything from electric bus celebrations, to early careers networking – tram demonstrations, webinars, pledges, panels, stickers, and everything in between. Fuelled by copious amounts of tea and coffee, this week was certainly one to remember.
We kicked things off in Leeds, Huddersfield and Cardiff, and ended it in Manchester and Hull – via Blackpool, Coventry, Portsmouth, Newcastle, Plymouth, Bristol, Rugby, Redhill, and a few stops in between. We saw the best of sustainable transport in action, and some real examples of what investment and collaboration can achieve. And through it all, we kept the conversation going – online and in person – about why transport matters and what it could look like in future.
As our friend Lydia Horbury at Bus Users UK said, “Better Transport Week was a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the essential role sustainable, inclusive public transport plays in people’s everyday lives.” And that really is the point. This week is about celebrating what’s already working and showing people what’s possible when we support it properly. It’s a reminder that we’re not alone in reaching for better. People want choice. They want transport that’s affordable, reliable, accessible and safe. They want to walk, wheel, ride and share – if the systems and infrastructure are there to back them up.
Friday’s free conference at Manchester Metropolitan University was a real highlight. Sponsored by Trueform, it brought together people from across the transport world and beyond to talk rail, bus, trams, the Integrated National Transport Strategy and more. I was delighted that so many supporters, students and campaigners were able to join colleagues from across the profession – a real melting pot and a unique experience for all.
We’ve had great feedback from people who took part across the board. Some discovered new projects, others built connections, and plenty said it gave them a real lift to see sustainable transport getting the spotlight for once. Whether it was the local Councillor handing out stickers at a Farmers’ Market, the student pitching solutions at the Hackathon, or the passenger sharing their favourite journey online – every single action helped make Better Transport Week what it was.
And it doesn’t end here. We’ll be publishing the wrap up figures soon – and the ideas, partnerships and conversations from this week will carry on for the next year.
Thanks again to all our sponsors and supporters – especially Bauer Media Outdoor for coming on board as headline sponsor. We couldn’t have done it without you. And a huge, huge shout out to everyone at Campaign for Better Transport. This was truly a team effort – and what an accomplishment it is indeed!
Same time next year? Mark your calendars for 15 to 21 June 2026 !
