Recommendation 18

HM Government Accepted

The Government will consider future opportunities to outline its policy and vision for local bus services. Buses have a vital role to play in delivering Government’s missions, including kickstarting economic growth, breaking down barriers to opportunity and making Britain a clean energy superpower. Our vision is of a bus service which is attractive to, accessible to, and well- used by everyone in the community, and in which the needs and priorities of bus passengers (both existing and potential) are front and centre. We will work with local authorities and bus operators in England to grow bus usage by improving services. As outlined in our written and oral evidence submitted to the Committee, our aim is for more people to choose to take the bus because: • services are more reliable and they trust that their bus will turn up on time and that buses are available when they are needed; • they provide the connections they need – particularly to get to work, school or college, to access healthcare, and to get to the shops and to opportunities for recreation; • they are, and feel, safe – especially women and girls – throughout their journey; • services are faster – particularly in towns and cities; • buses are better integrated into the wider transport system and it’s easy to make a journey using different transport modes; • they have accurate, accessible and easy to understand information when and where they need it, including when services are disrupted; • buses, stops and bus stations are accessible for all; • tickets are affordable, including for younger people, in both urban and rural areas; and • it is an increasingly climate and environmentally-friendly choice. Buses are a public service best delivered at the local level, recognising that every place is unique with its own characteristics and preferences. We will empower and support local authorities and bus operators to deliver this vision, and we have already made progress, with the Bus Services (No.2) Bill giving more powers to local leaders to deliver the bus service model that works best for their area. This is backed-up by substantial investment: with the Autumn 2024 Budget allocating over £1 billion to support and improve bus services and keep fares affordable in 25/26, and further funding secured in the Spending Review for future years.