The Scottish Government is under pressure from Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow, to stop blocking a “basic first step” that could result in better bus services. The Transport Minister, Keith Brown, appears to be resisting calls for a survey of passenger satisfaction.
Mr Harvie has a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for the survey. However, it has yet to be signed by any SNP MSPs.It is backed by MSPs from Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
Such was the substance of the reply to our letter to Lothian Buses seeking reassurances about the 113 service. I quote:
It is not our intention to instigate the 113 on such a short term basis that it will not be given every opportunity to prove its sustainability as you fear based on previous experience with other operators.
We had written in to Lothian Buses broadly welcoming the new service and seeking clarification on a number of matters that had left us and other users a little bit confused. We were curious as to why it was necessary to create a new brand East Lothian Buses. We have learnt that:
The operating name of ELB is a trading name to reflect the operating area of this service and hopefully it will develop brand loyalty.
Continue reading The 113 will be given every opportunity to prove its sustainability
We’ve been updating the bus timetables for Rural East Lothian and it struck us – not for the first time – that each of the operators are providing variable amounts of the information that bus passengers in rural east Lothian expect. And we wondered:
What if bus passenger information and levels of service were more consistent?
What if there was some way that providers could be encouraged to improve?
What if we could get each of the operators to sign up to a Bus Passenger Charter?
The Bus Passenger Charter would be a list of commitments that each operator / provider would strive to achieve. The commitments would cover at very least fares and fare structure, timetables and route information, related publicity including that at bus stops and on buses.
It could go further and include commitments to accessibility and perhaps a range of standards of service, e.g. punctuality over and above statutory obligations. Changes to timetables might involve greater passenger consultation.
We aren’t starting from a completely blank sheet, as I found this over at the Bus Users UK website, but what do others think should be in the East Lothian Bus Passenger Charter?
Councillor Michael Veitch was tipped last week for the Depute Leader post and Cabinet Spokesperson for Transport and Roads.
We are very much looking forward to meeting up with him.
Continue reading Michael Veitch East Lothian Spokesperson for Transport and Roads
