Bus Service Improvement Partnerships
Bus Service Improvement Partnerships
Bus Service Improvement Partnerships would be partnerships between Local Transport Authorities and bus companies. There are several plans for how these partnerships might work.
Plans
The consultation asked for views on these plans. Many said that the plans were good and could work. They would need to be flexible to meet different needs of areas.
People said there should be a full consultation in each local community when putting a partnership together.
Some people said that the partnerships were a bad idea. They would make services private. They said this would not help with the cost or lack of services.
Making, changing and cancelling plans
The consultation asked how plans should be made, changed and cancelled. It asked how people should be told about them.
Most said there was a need to be flexible. More than half of people did not think there should be any conditions for cancelling plans, but some people gave more detailed answers on the subject.
Making things to improve bus use (facilities and measures)
The Local Transport Authority must show they will spend money to improve bus use. Facilities could include building more bus stops. Measures could be less road works on major bus routes.
The consultation asked for views on the meaning of facilities and measures. Most disagreed with the meaning of measures and said it could cover more things.
Most said that facilities should be part of a plan with no time limit.
Services exempt from standards
The rules say that Bus Service Improvement Partnerships must follow standards. This covers the vehicles used, cost of fares and when bus times can be changed.
The consultation asked if any bus services should be exempt from these standards. Most people said that all bus services should have to follow the standards.
Voting
The rules say that bus companies should have a say in how the partnership works. The voting system is based on how large an area is covered by the bus service.
The consultation asked for views on the system of voting and if some bus companies should be left out. Most people disagreed with the wording of the rules and said they were not clear. Many agreed that some bus services should be left out of voting. Many did not agree or disagree with the voting system in the rules.
Multi-operators travel card
The rules say there can be multi-operator travel cards. This is a scheme that lets the ticket holder make three or more journeys on three or more public transport services. They must follow laws about competition.
Most people agreed with this idea.
Reviewing and reporting
A Bus Service Improvement Partnership must say how its operation will be checked and when reviews will be done. The consultation said this should be covered by Scottish Government guidance.
Most people agreed with this.
Checking on Bus Service Improvement Partnerships
The rules say what information Local Transport Authorities are allowed to get from bus companies before they set up a partnership.
The consultation asked if there should be information left out. Most people said no information should be left out. Some were concerned about giving out business information. Some people also said this information should be shared if there was an impact on bus services.
Accessibility of services
The consultation asked if further guidance was needed on making bus services accessible for disabled people.
People said there was a need for:
- disability awareness training for drivers
- consultation with a range of organisations
- accessible information
- all bus stops to be accessible.
Some comments said there was a need to think about the kinds of vehicles used for some bus services.
Guidance
The consultation asked if any more information should be included in the Bus Service Improvement Partnership guidance.
Most people said that road services should be included. There should be better planning of road works and closures that would affect bus services.
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