We’re publishing an updated version of the Focus on Bus Passengers and Services discussion document. The latest version takes into account comments and contributions received during last year’s period of consultation.
We hope this will help the operators, council and other stakeholders understand the travelling public’s needs better.
Bus operators, including those supported and run by East Lothian Council face many challenges. Public policies and strategies at Central, Scottish and Local Government levels are increasingly directed at stimulating patronage of public transport. East Lothian Council’s Draft Local Transport Strategy echoes these policy directions, and the recent ELC mini conference on supported and community transport recognised the need for a more cohesive and directed approach.
Despite the significant subsidy that exists to support operators and passengers, bus users frequently feel their voice is not heard and that making public transport choices is neither easy nor any longer an affordable option. In rural areas in particular, there is great concern about the lack of bus services to local towns and amenities making it increasingly difficult to live in a village without owning a car. RELBUS therefore wants to see a new focus on passengers. RELBUS believes that to construct public transport services that are not only well used and well tailored to meet the needs of local people, but also well regarded requires adequate investment in wide passenger consultation.
The following is an assimilation of best practices and the types of measures that would make journeys easier and more pleasant. This would help passengers use public transport out of choice rather than just necessity in urban areas and provide a realistic option in rural areas. We set out what RELBUS thinks companies and public authorities should be doing now and in the future.
