Miki Szikszai, CEO and founder of Snapper Services, discusses the importance of reliable bus services
September 2024 marked Catch the Bus Month, a charity initiative launched by Bus Users UK to celebrate the crucial role buses play in society. This year’s campaign centred around accessibility, demonstrating the impact user-friendly public transport can have on people’s lives and the difference simple improvements can make.
While it is right that we celebrate and challenge people to use buses in this way each year, transit networks should be valued every day as the vital ‘societal connectors’ they are.
’Societal connectors’
Reliable networks are key to connecting people while reducing congestion and the number of single-use cars on the road. Not only do they enable daily movement, getting people to work, school or medical appointments, but buses also facilitate freedom of movement for less-abled members of the community, helping them to meet up with others and get outdoors.
Unfortunately, travel disruption, policy changes and inconsistencies associated with public transport in the UK mean that bus networks often go undervalued, and their benefits are overlooked.
Research shows that buses are vital to the UK economy. According to a study commissioned by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), every £1 invested in bus infrastructure generates £4.55 in return, with bus operators employing 105,000 individuals and supporting an additional 53,000 jobs across the supply chain.
There are real benefits to be achieved by investing in accessibility. Centrebus’ affordable £2 fare initiative has increased patronage by 40% across Leicester, Grantham, Luton and Buxton.
[…]
By subscribing you will benefit from:
- Operator & Supplier Profiles
- Face-to-Face Interviews
- Lastest News
- Test Drives and Reviews
- Legal Updates
- Route Focus
- Industry Insider Opinions
- Passenger Perspective
- Vehicle Launches
- and much more!
