Better Transport

We urge the Government to create an independent, statutory, government-funded passenger watchdog for bus users.

Passengers currently do not understand who runs the buses and who to turn to when things go wrong. The bus industry was the only utility to be privatised without the parallel creation of a passenger watchdog/regulator. Achieving the government’s aim of increasing bus patronage (stated in Putting Passengers First, 2006) requires rethinking how bus users are treated, and this means providing them with a watchdog that will protect and promote their interests.

The watchdog should have regional divisions and a national office. Passengers need public-facing regional complaints bodies to deal with all of their concerns, such as fares, frequencies, timetables, accessibility, journey times, security, vehicle standards and information, and to lobby for new services. The national office would lobby on behalf of all bus users, and recommend minimum standards in response to its national passenger survey.

Signed:

Campaign for Better Transport
Community Transport Association
CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation
Friends of the Earth
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Living Streets
Mencap
The National Federation of Women’s Institutes
National Pensioners Convention
RNIB
RNID
SERA
UK Youth Parliament
Unison
Women’s Design Service

October 2007