Campaign for Better Transport Bus Blog

Copy the French; invest in trams

admin — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:55:53 +0000

14 November: I've just come back from holiday in Bordeaux, where new trams have transformed the city. Bristol is twinned with Bordeaux, and it needs trams too.

Government must encourage local authorities to use new powers

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:08:16 +0000

3 November: Local authorities will soon have new powers to improve buses, but the guidance on using these is long, complex and offputting. We've told the Government to improve it - otherwise local authorities and bus companies will never sort out buses.

We make Geoff Hoon include climate change in transport bill

admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:07:11 +0000

28 October: Last night I was in the House of Commons to see whether the climate change amendment we supported would make it into the Local Transport Bill.

Competition law must work for passengers

admin — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:36:38 +0000

17 October: We've responded to the Office of Fair Trading's consultation on competition guidance for the bus sector.

10 days to take action on climate change

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:51:46 +0000

16 October: Clive Betts MP has tabled our suggested amendment to the Local Transport Bill, and we need your help to persuade MPs to vote for it. Our amendment would make sure local transport policies reduce carbon emissions. We're expecting MPs to debate the amendment in 10 days - please take action now [note: action closed on 27 October 2008].

Big money available to improve public transport

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:01:15 +0000

14 October: We've just written to local authorities all over the country to tell them how they can use a new pot of Government funding to improve public transport.

Each region is currently writing a wish-list of transport schemes they want Government money for. The Government's guidance doesn't say much about public transport. I thought I should investigate this! I talked to the Department for Transport about bus, tram and train schemes.

Geoff Hoon: bus passengers need your help

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:11:49 +0000

6 October: The Government is planning to create a statutory watchdog for bus passengers - but there's a catch. It won't help people with complaints! We've told the new transport secretary that he must change this: bus passengers deserve better.

Buses should be high on party conference agenda

admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:40:31 +0000

18 September: We'll be at the Labour party conference in Manchester on Monday, but we'll be staying in a central hotel so we won't be using the buses. It seems lots of people aren't using them: statistics released today show bus use is falling everywhere except for London. That's because major cities as well as more rural areas don't yet have the powers or the funding they need to improve buses.

We take to the airwaves for better buses

admin — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:14:24 +0000

9 September: I've just been on Radio 4's You and Yours talking about the problems bus passengers face, and the need for an effective new watchdog.

Boris increases fares; ignores climate change

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:35:33 +0000

4 September: Today London Mayor Boris Johnson announced inflation-busting increases in bus and tube fares from 2009. In the last decade London has proved affordable fares can get people out of their cars - and we've been telling the Government to copy its example in the rest of the country. Fare increases like this will turn back time and make London the congested city it used to be.