Better Transport

Maybe you just want one new bus route, or you want your bus to go in the evenings or on a Sunday. If that’s the case, our other bus guide will help. But if you and other people agree that the whole bus network needs improving, with more frequent buses, more routes and more evening and Sunday services, that’s a whole new challenge.

What you’re really asking for is a step change in the services provided. The most obvious way to achieve this is by getting the local authority to set up a new voluntary agreement, quality partnership or quality contract with bus companies in your area, to make some big improvements. Remember, though, there has only been one statutory quality partnership in the country and no quality contracts. Getting authorities to use these powers is a big challenge. But many authorities – Wokingham, Southend On Sea, Network West Midlands and Hastings, for example – have set up voluntary partnerships. 

There are many options for getting more buses:

• It might be that pushing the local authority to introduce more bus-friendly policies would result in more buses. If the authority does everything it can to encourage drivers to take the bus, by introducing bus lanes, increasing parking charges and so on, this is likely to lead to more passengers. The more people using the bus, the more likely it is that bus companies will introduce more buses themselves because it will be profitable for them to do so
• If there's new development in your area, you could take this opportunity to push for new buses 
• Another way to get more buses might be by introducing a new bus scheme on a key corridor. Maybe your authority is already planning a scheme, or maybe you have one in mind that you want to campaign for
• You might get more buses more easily if your area had an integrated transport authority because ITAs have ring-fenced money to spend on public transport, have more clout and power than single councils and cover a wide area, which is more appropriate area when planning buses

Talk to your transport authority about the options. Find out whether your authority is interested in using them. Talk to the public transport officers in the authority and talk to the councillors, particularly the executive member for transport. Write a letter to councillors, explaining why your group thinks the bus network should be improved and suggesting how the authority could go about doing this, for example, using a voluntary agreement, quality partnership or contract. Lots of councillors may not even be aware of the powers they could use. It’s important to give them the necessary information, show them the opportunities they have and get people talking within the authority about these opportunities.

When you've decided on what you're campaigning for, increase the pressure on your transport authority.

It might be a good idea to talk to local residents who would be affected by an increase in buses down their street. If you think there might be opposition to the improvements you’re campaigning for, you can pre-empt this by making contact with people, hearing their views and explaining why more buses will be better for them (reduced car traffic, better services and so on).

Be sure to look at our general bus campaigning tips and to use bus facts to support your work.

• Increased reliability
• More priority for buses
  
• Better stations and stops  
• Clearer signage 
• Low-floor buses
• More buses 
• Lower fares