Better Transport

Once you've prepared some good arguments for why your bus service should be improved, you need to then pressure your transport authority to improve it.  There are many ways you could put pressure on your transport authority to get better buses, including going to the authority's meetings, organising a public meeting, getting support from councillors and getting some media coverage.

Speak at transport authority meetings

Go to transport authority meetings and:

• Ask questions about your bus service
• Make a statement about your local bus, and ask the transport authority to pay for what you need
• Present a petition

You will probably need permission to do any of the above because the authority will want to know in advance what you’re planning. See the 'council' or 'democracy' section of the authority's website or ring the appropriate officer (the website should tell you who to ring) to find out what the proper processes are. You have a right to be heard, so make sure you are! Bring lots of supporters with you to show the authority how strongly people feel. Hold a demonstration outside as councillors are going in to the meeting -- being sure to bring banners and leaflets.

Organise a public meeting

Organise a public meeting in the area where your bus is running (or where you want it to run). Invite councillors, council officers and bus company representatives. This will show the people you need to persuade that public feeling on this issue is strong. It also gets them out of their offices, and shows them the real world where their decisions are having an impact.

Get support from councillors

Try to get support from as many councillors as possible. Opposition parties will often be more likely to take your side, so show them that people are upset about buses in your area and that this is a political priority.

If you are in a PTE area, get support from as many district councillors as possible – you will need to persuade them to try to influence the district councillor sitting on the PTE.

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Good idea: Victoria Harvey's relationship with her council was vital to her successful bus campaign. "A lot of campaigning is about building positive relationships. Don't always be anti-stuff! A lot of people in councils are doing their best for communities and sustainability."
Victoria has several tips for working with your local council

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Get some media coverage

Use the local media to make your point. Buses can come and go very quickly, and it’s vital that you get as much media coverage as possible as quickly as possible.

The transport authority may respond to pressure, and that pressure is going to be strongest when the news about your bus is still new. For example, if a bus route is about to be cut, the newspapers won't be interested forever. You need to get as much coverage from them as possible while the issue is still 'live'. It won’t be impossible to get a transport authority to think again months later about reinstating your bus – but it will be very much harder.