Better Transport

Campaign for Better Transport knows that what’s needed is an improvement in bus services. And we know that if improvement happens, more of us will take the bus. How do we know that? Because it’s been shown time and again – even in sparsely populated areas:

• The south coast’s ‘Jurassic coast’ route saw passenger numbers triple from around 30,000 in 1999 to just under 100,000 in 2004 because of a marketing campaign and new double-deck buses that appeal to locals and tourists
• Trent Barton increased the frequency of services from Derby to Nottingham from every half hour to every 15 minutes and brought in a fleet of new, air-conditioned coaches. They ran a successful marketing campaign, increasing custom on the route by over 100% in two years. They are now fitting the coaches with leather seats and free wi-fi
• The number of passengers using Stagecoach services in Sheffield shot up by 58% in just 12 months after the company relaunched the network and increased frequency to every 10 minutes on seven main routes and introduced low-floor buses, evening services and a combined bus-tram ticket
• Bus use in Lincoln shot up by nearly 25% in just six months after the bus company increased frequency on some routes, introduced flexible network-based tickets, and low-floor buses – and the county council installed new bus stops, real-time information systems and on-street timetables
• New easy-access buses, more frequent buses, road infrastructure changes and marketing – joint effort of the bus company and the borough councils – brought 15% more passengers on a West Midlands urban route
• An express service connecting two towns has been promoted by Travel West Midlands as a high quality bus service and has been well received by customers, getting 6% growth
• In Kent, the county council worked with the bus company, the Department for Transport and the then-Office of Deputy Prime Minister to launch a high-quality route in Kent Thameside in March 2006. 40,000 people a week are using the service, with 20% previously using their cars for the same journey.
• By introducing a new bus interchange at Telford Railway Station, along with fast, frequent reliable buses, the borough, county council and bus company have made the service very attractive to people. The number of passengers using the service into the town centre has increased 80%, contributing to a 30% increase in bus usage across the borough since 1999

Have a ‘good news’ bus story of your own? Please share it with us.