On the buses with RELBUS

The annual report of RELBUS, the East Lothian bus users’ group, has highlighted the range of activities with which the group has been involved in order to improve the lot of bus passengers across the county. Working with East Lothian Council and the operators RELBUS launched the Passenger Charter, it is represented on the council’s Bus Forum and on the East Lothian Community Rail Partnership, it has made an input to the supported bus route tendering process and to the consultation on MSP Iain Gray’s Bus Bill and it has continued its bread and butter business of making representations on behalf of bus users.

Barry Turner, chairman of RELBUS said: ”It has been another busy year for RELBUS, a year when we have been reaching out and having more and more influence on what is happening to bus service provision in East Lothian. The big success story of the year has been the launch of the Passenger Charter which represents a new deal for bus users and shows what can be achieved when organisations come together to find common ground and common cause. We are very pleased with the outcome and hope that it is just the start of successful cooperation which will deliver change for existing bus passengers and attract people out of their cars.”

At the group’s recent Annual General Meeting Councillor Dave Berry gave a presentation on how bus services could be arranged to suit the needs of tourists. This is one of the priorities identified for the coming year given that better connections for tourists also mean better connections for local people. Other priorities will be delivering on the Passenger Charter, tackling social exclusion in remote communities through novel transport solutions and building on links with other organisations so as to promote public transport use.

If you want further information about what RELBUS does or would like to become a member, access our website: www.relbus.org.uk.

General Press Release – October 2014