LONDON, December 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government has today published a review of bus services, in advanceof preparing a new Road Transport Bill in 2007.
Amongst its proposals is the strengthening of powers for localauthorities over the specification of bus services, though it is proposed toleave things alone in the many places where bus services are working well.
However BUS USERS UK believes that finding effective ways to enable busservices to avoid being embroiled in traffic congestion should be a higherpriority than changing the regulatory framework. Where buses have effective,properly-enforced priority measures, they can be made more reliable andquicker and provide a real, effective alternative to the car, especially onkey urban corridors. Buses can then begin to provide a real solution to theproblems of increasing traffic congestion and environmental pollution.
BUS USERS UK chairman Gavin Booth said: 'Tram systems are successfulbecause they have their own "track". There are ways to give buses similarbenefits and we would like to see Government showing its commitment toreducing car dependency by addressing these issues rather than just tinkeringwith the regulatory framework.'
Whilst the Government's review doesn't address such fundamental issuesBUS USERS UK broadly welcomed today's proposals for the future of busservices.
BUS USERS UK is concerned though that the new proposals give localauthorities greater powers to specify bus services in their area and to issueexclusive contracts to bus operators to run those services. 'In practice theonly areas where we expect to see such powers being taken up are those wherelocal authorities have already failed to engage effectively with busoperator, and where political considerations are likely to take precedenceover the actual needs of the travelling public', warned Mr Booth.
BUS USERS UK has always found that bus services can be made to work wellwhere local authorities and bus companies work well together in partnership,with a common goal to improve things for bus users. This benefits thecommunity as a whole, as attractive bus services can have a major effect inencouraging car owners to use the bus too, reducing problems of congestionand environmental pollution, as well as improving mobility for those withoutcars.
Also welcomed by bus users are proposals that would mean bus companieswill have to report their performance standards to the industry's regulators,the Traffic Commissioners. However BUS USERS UK is aware that the TrafficCommissioners, the authorities who license buses, taxis and lorries, arealready under-resourced and will need improved resources if they are to takea greater role in monitoring bus reliability and punctuality standards.
Notes to editors:
The Department for Transport has today published itslong-awaited review of bus services, in preparation for a new Road TransportBill next year.
In essence the review proposes strengthening local agreementsbetween local authorities and bus operators, such that local authorities canspecify minimum frequencies, timings and even maximum fares within voluntaryagreements, and reducing the threshold for the enabling of Quality Contractsto make it easier for local authorities to introduce a franchising regime toreplace the existing deregulated environment in their areas. These could bemade to apply particularly in connection with road pricing schemes, for whichthe Government wants to see pilot schemes within four to five years.
BUS USERS UK is a non-statutory body established as theNational Federation of Bus Users in 1985 to give bus passengers a voice inthe liberalisation and privatisation of bus services outside London.
Its aims are:
-To strengthen the voice of bus users in the discussion ofpublic transport issues
-To increase the influence of bus passengers on local andnational decisions affecting bus services
-To develop good communication between bus companies andtheir passengers
Its membership comprises mainly bus passengers, although itswork has been recognised by the industry such that it also has representationin most major bus companies (outside London) and local authorities.
It is a partner in the Bus Appeals Body, set up to help passengers wherelegitimate complaints about bus services have not been resolvedsatisfactorily, and organises Bus Users Surgeries in town centres throughoutBritain to enable bus passengers to voice their concerns directly to buscompany managers.
For further information please contact: Gavin Booth Chairman BUS USERS UK Tel: +44-(0)131-652-0205 E-mail: gavin@bususers.org Stephen Morris External Affairs Officer, BUS USERS UK Tel: +44-(0)1932-232574 or +44-(0)7761-473198 E-mail: editor@bususers.org Website: http://www.bususers.org
BUS USERS UK
For further information please contact: Gavin Booth, Chairman BUS USERS UK, Tel: +44-(0)131-652-0205, E-mail: gavin@bususers.org; Stephen Morris, External Affairs Officer, BUS USERS UK, Tel: +44-(0)1932-232574 or +44-(0)7761-473198, E-mail: editor@bususers.org
