Campaign calls for Bus Service Guarantee

Campaign for Better Transport is calling on the government to introduce a Bus Service Guarantee as part of its promised ‘bus revolution’. The Guarantee would ensure all communities have at least a minimum, reasonable level of bus service.

“If the government really wants to bring about ‘London-style’ services across the country, it should define the levels of services everyone should be able to expect” – Silviya Barrett from Campaign for Better Transport

Silviya Barrett from Campaign for Better Transport said: “No community should face being completely cut off from public transport. Buses are a lifeline, making bus provision a social justice issue. A Bus Service Guarantee would ensure public transport gets treated and funded as the essential public service that it is. If the government really wants to bring about ‘London-style’ services across the country, it should define the levels of services everyone should be able to expect and ensure local authorities have the funding to deliver them.”

The Campaign group’s call comes after the government has announced reforms to the way local bus funding is allocated in an effort to address so-called disparities in funding per head of population between local authorities. Campaign for Better Transport argues that greater transparency is still needed on the factors used in the formula for allocations.

Campaign for Better Transport is calling on the government to include a Bus Service Guarantee in the forthcoming Better Buses Bill and move to longer-term funding settlements. Guidance for appropriate minimum levels of services depending on location/population, for example, would be issued by the DfT, along with targeted funding to help places that fall below the agreed minimum level to meet the Guarantee.