SWELTRAC discovers ways of encouraging more bus use

May 2000

At its Bus Seminar and Workshops earlier this month, SWELTRAC examined ways of encouraging modal shift from car to bus.

Delegates heard good news form LTB’s Head of Strategy Dick Halle about increasing patronage, new buses, new timetables and passenger information and maps. 60% of London’s 5000 buses will soon be "low floor".

SWELTRAC’s Integrated Transport Chair, Alison Broom from Merton, explained SWELTRAC’s wider objectives and achievements. She added that there was a lot more Boroughs could do in terms of enforcement, raising travel awareness and in carrying out measures that would be helpful to buses.

Robin Young, London General’s Commercial Director, detailed some of the daily problems bus operators encountered in their efforts to make bus travel attractive and reliable. These included roadworks, faulty traffic signals and lack of enforcement.

Suzanne May, LRPC’s Deputy Chairman, gave an insight of the passengers perspective. Their prime need was to be assured that their journey would be better.

Delegates split into three workshops to consider: how to encourage more bus use; how to ease bus operators’ problems, and how to achieve better integration between modes.

The main outcomes were:

• That many improvements were actually taking place in services, ticketing and information

• There is a Virtuous Circle at work with improved bus services leading to greater passenger confidence and increased patronage.

• However, reliability problems exist that require much better communications between the various parties

• Much greater effort is needed to persuade the non-bus user to give up the car.

Bob Alker, Chair of SWELTRAC’s Steering Group commented that "problem solving required much better dialogue between the Boroughs and the operators at scheme preparation stages and especially in terms of enforcement." He went on to say; "There is still a lot to do to persuade even more people to use buses. Travel awareness and Green Transport Plan campaigns need to be more widespread as well as more persuasive restraint measures."