Hello Supporter

Last month we published a report, The Future of Rural Bus Services in the UK, showing the impact of poor public transport on the health and wellbeing of communities and rural economies.

It reveals rural transport in a state of crisis, with bus cuts and shrinking transport networks making it harder and harder for people to get to work or school, to visit friends and family, or access shops and services, as well as putting extra pressure on our congested roads with the associated air pollution and environmental damage increased car use causes.

Things need to change. Creating comprehensive and consistent networks in rural areas can be achieved if we pool resources and involve communities in planning.

The Government must realise that accessible and affordable public transport is as important in rural areas as anywhere else and do more to help communities and local authorities provide a public transport network that supports rural economies and connects communities.

There is an opportunity to rethink rural public transport and ensure all communities have a genuine choice about how they travel.

Chris 

Live near Bristol or in East Sussex?

How could major roads be made better for buses? Highways England manages the strategic road network of motorways and major trunk roads, including some used by important bus routes. They don't control the bus services but can have a big impact on issues from how safe it is to cross the road at bus stops, to how traffic information is shared with bus operators. We are working on a project to help Highways England identify what improvements could be made to bus facilities, based on two case study locations: the M32 Junction 1 at Filton north of Bristol and the A27 from Falmer to Lewes. We welcome your views in these surveys:

• Survey for people near Bristol
• Survey for people in East Sussex

Do you travel by train as well as by bus?

If this sounds like you then we want to hear your views on what the Government can do to improve the railway for passengers. We’ve compiled a short online survey, the results of which will be included as part of our submission to the Government’s review of the railways. Please do take five minutes to complete it and help us to make passengers’ views heard.