Better Transport

The Department for Transport is keen for local authorities to make the key decisions about transport in their areas. The Local Transport Act 2008 was introduced by the Government to give authorities more powers to improve transport, buses in particular.

But central Government does decide on the powers local authorities will have, and the funding they can get to improve transport. The department makes decisions about which major transport schemes get funded, it expects the local transport plan to reflect its own national goals for transport and it keeps an eye on the targets authorities have put into local area agreements.

The Department for Transport will probably not be a target for your campaigning. Your main target is the transport authority. That's because the transport authority makes the key decisions you'll want to influence. Also, it is very difficult to influence the Department for Transport. If your transport authority is already doing everything perfectly, but the Department is standing in its way, then you might want to consider working with the authority to influence the department.

• Local transport authorities 
• Bus companies
• Department for Transport 
• Traffic commissioners
• Passenger Focus 
• Bus Users UK
• Bus Appeals Body 
• Local strategic partnerships