Transport User Voice – October 2019 – Meet the Busketeers

30 September 2019

People in the West Midlands urged to ‘Give Bus a Go’

People across the West Midlands are being urged to ‘Give Bus a Go’ as part of Transport Focus’s new campaign to encourage more journeys by bus.

To kickstart the campaign a group of people who live and work in the West Midlands but rarely or never use buses have pledged to Give Bus a Go. The ‘Busketeers’ use social media to discuss their experience and feed back to Transport Focus using an app.

Transport Focus is using the feedback from the Busketeers to highlight the benefits of bus travel and how operators can improve services. You can see how they are getting on in our latest blog.

One in four people who are not regular bus users tell us they would consider using them more often. They say that they don’t use the bus because journeys take too long and cost too much.

Transport Focus will work with Transport for the West Midlands, bus operators and local authorities to understand current challenges and trial new initiatives to improve services and the passenger experience.

Launching the campaign at Wolverhampton bus station, Transport Focus stakeholder manager and West Midlands Bus Alliance chair Linda McCord said:

“Whether commuting to work or seeing friends and family, buses are vital for keeping the West Midlands connected.

“To help more people choose bus it’s essential that services turn up on time and offer good value for money.

“Operators and local authorities must work to make buses a more attractive and sustainable choice for new passengers.

“Transport Focus wants more people in the West Midlands to Give Bus a Go this September.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands added:

“Buses are often overlooked when it comes to getting around the region but, with 260 million journeys taken a year, they are actually the most popular form of public transport. Latest figures show patronage rose by 1 per cent, bucking a national decline.

“Not only do buses provide an essential lifeline for our communities but they also help in our fight against climate change and air pollution by getting people out of their cars.

“There is no better time to travel by bus, and I would implore everyone to Give Bus a Go.”

Despite being vital to society and the UK economy, bus travel doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves. Buses are Britain’s most widely used mode of public transport and are popular with those who catch them: almost nine out of ten bus users told the Transport Focus Bus Passenger Survey 2018 they were satisfied with their most recent journey.

Tell Transport Focus if you’re giving bus a go or why not encourage someone who doesn’t use the bus to do so? They can feed their experiences through on the campaign website or share their experiences on social media using #GiveBusAGo.

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