Better Transport

Bus services simply aren’t good enough in many parts of the country. Fares are high, service isn’t good, and buses don’t run often enough to be a real alternative to the car.

It’s important we work to improve buses because:

• Two-thirds of public transport journeys are made by bus. They are a lifeline for many of us, allowing us to get to the shops, work, school, the GP and other services and even to the train. This is true even in rural areas, because 11% of rural households don’t have a car (we recently published a report (pdf) on how to improve rural bus services)
• Higher bus use would reduce traffic. Reducing traffic makes cities nicer places and reduces congestion, making it easier for everyone to get around. In rural areas, which have seen a big rise in traffic, reducing traffic helps to protect country lanes and the beauty and tranquillity of the countryside
• Buses provide the vital link between different kinds of sustainable transport – train, tram, cycling and walking – so good door-to-door public transport cannot happen without them.
• Buses can help us tackle climate change. Travelling by car produces up to three times as much CO2 as travelling by bus.