It’s getting local – campaigning for bus services

17 July 2015

From Frome in Somerset to Worthing people are getting restive about changes to bus services. This weekend saw a protest in Frome. It’s part of the campaign by the Frome and Villages Bus Users’ Group, to save the 161, 184, 267 and 424 buses. Further details including petition and poll of priorities for improvement here.

Meanwhile in Worthing, Sussex people like Gavin Muggeridge are so fed up with services that stop at 10pm they have got together to set up the Adur & Worthing Buswatch Steering Group. Drop them a line if you would like more detail – amazing detail and support for local public transport: worthingandadurbuswatch@gmail.com.

Massive financial pressures on local authorities are bringing about changes to ‘tendered’, local authority supported bus services. The feeling about loss of bus services seems to be complex. Rarely massive, visible consequences but a sense of loss of opportunity, loss of choice and perhaps a lessening in quality of life. We have researched this issue – click here to read our report.

The sense of being cut off, left behind and isolated is palpable.
While providing scheduled bus services to more sparsely populated areas clearly is going to become more and more difficult more demand responsive transport (Uber-style services) may provide some solutions. We are doing more work into passengers’ needs in this area building on what we have already done.

This debate will intensify.