Campaign for Better Transport calls for more Government support to accelerate move to cleaner vehicles at summit
Local and central government representatives, bus manufacturers, transport operators and energy providers came together in London on 17 September to discuss how to speed up the introduction of zero-emission buses across the country.
The Zero Emission Bus Summit, which was organised by Campaign for Better Transport in partnership with Transport for London and hosted by the Mayor of London, brought together the key players and stakeholders needed to deliver a greener, better bus network to help transform towns, cities and rural areas.
Silviya Barrett from Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) said: “Buses are already one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel and a zero-emission fleet will make them even greener, further reducing carbon emissions and air pollution. But our recent research with local authorities revealed that delivering the Government’s target for zero-emission buses was one area where many authorities felt they lacked the necessary support and expertise. That’s why London’s commitment to a full zero-emission fleet and today’s summit are so important. Only by sharing knowledge and skills and working together, including targeted funding from Government, can we achieve the clean, affordable and regular bus network the country needs to ensure more people use buses and leave their cars at home. That’s good news for the economy, communities and the environment.”
The Government’s National Bus Strategy aims to both increase bus use and accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, but relies on local authorities and operators working together to deliver a better and greener bus network. After more than a decade of funding and service cuts, CBT believes that many local authorities no longer have the capacity or capability to deliver these objectives on their own. It is calling for more support from central government in the form of additional funding, help building local authorities’ capabilities, speeding up the roll-out of charging infrastructure and more ways to encourage people to choose the bus to ensure the aims of the National Bus Strategy become a reality.
