A £3 billion investment to improve bus services across England will result in cheaper, more frequent and easier to access services, the Government has pledged.
The Bus Back Better National Bus Strategy for England calls on local authorities to follow London’s lead and overhaul bus services.
Changes to fares, timetables, ticketing, payments and vehicles are all planned.
Local authorities are being advised to work together with operators to create franchise agreements which will unlock funding for improvements.
Crucially, hundreds of miles of new bus lanes are also planned to make journeys quicker and more reliable.
Councils are being urged to seize the opportunity to overcome barriers to improved bus services with better integration, landscaping and street furniture redevelopment to accommodate passenger needs.
Greater access to bus services
Travelling with confidence is a key part of the national bus strategy, with councils given 12 months to start making transformational change or risk missing out on funding.
Buses will need to be greener; more frequent; faster and more reliable; cheaper; more comprehensive; and easier to understand.
Bus stops should show accurate information and should be named consistently by operators serving them. Bus stations should be protected from closure and redevelopment, and instead improved.
Bus routes should also be integrated with other modes of transport such as railway stations and cycling and walking routes.
High-quality stops and shelters should be close to station entrances and more rural bus services should carry bikes.
The strategy also calls for designs which promote inclusivity – this includes making vehicles easy to access for disabled passengers as well as bus stops and bus stations.
Safety demands include CCTV at bus stops and data to inform passengers about bus arrivals.
Passenger satisfaction
Tackling negative views about bus use is at the heart of the Government’s strategy.
Its latest Transport Focus Annual Bus Passenger Survey showed top priorities for improvement from members of the public included stops that are close to home and destinations. More destinations, more buses, better timekeeping, frequency and value were also on the list.
By the end of October this year (2021) all Local Transport Authorities are expected to publish a bus service improvement plan to set out how they will meet the goals in the strategy, driven by passenger need.
Bus service improvement plans will cover a wide range of issues and should:
- Set targets for journey time and reliability improvements
- identify priority transit route measures
- set out actions to transform bus fleets
- show a start in making improvements for passengers, considering the impact of roadside infrastructure such as bus shelters on safety, security and accessibility.
Planning for the future
England’s first Bus Centre of Excellence will be created under the new strategy to share best practice in many areas including network design, procurement and management measures.
The Transport for London and Transport for Greater Manchester models will be held up as examples to follow.
At Broxap, we have worked extensively with local authorities, including TfL and TfGM, to support the improvement of transport infrastructure and the joining up of networks.
From unique canopy design to seating, cycle hubs to enhanced security features, our partnership approach has gone much further than simply supplying street furniture and shelters – we have worked to overcome barriers for passengers and bring about improved outcomes.
Take a look at some of our past projects such as the Gloucester Transport Hub; Haymarket Bus Station in Leicester; King’s Lynn Transport Interchange in Norfolk; and Bedford Bus Station.
As well as a wide range of passenger waiting shelters which provide convenient and comfortable roadside infrastructure, our bespoke service offers the opportunity to design custom safety, security and accessibility features into our products.
We take the time to consider the role good design and high-quality infrastructure plays in enabling passengers to make informed journey choices and support local authorities in the provision of facilities which encourage greater bus use.
Our advisers are available to discuss how Broxap can help local transport authorities create safe, consistent, branded bus infrastructure networks. Get in touch today.