BUS RESEARCH WARNS OF REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2012 :: RMTnews 11 Research by Passenger Focus has found that bus services are vital to many people and removing them can reduce people's quality of life. The research identifies the impact passengers experienced from reductions to their publicly-supported bus services. It found there were four main types of impact which reduced people’s quality of life and their lifestyles: • Passengers could not travel like they used to • Their dependency on others increased • Sometimes passengers paid more to travel another way • People can no longer travel spontaneously The full report identifies some key things which operators and authorities should consider when making difficult decisions about reducing services. It also includes many real life examples and quotes from people affected by service changes. The government’s Comprehensive Spending Review reduced the budgets available for local councils and as a consequence also for local transport authorities. To meet the budgetary challenges, publicly-supported tendered bus services (i.e. those not operated on a full commercial basis), have been removed, reduced, or the network altered. Passenger Focus commissioned the research to provide an evidence base of the impact on passengers of changes and reductions to their publicly-supported bus services. It found there were four main types of impact on people’s quality of life and lifestyle. The research identifies some key things which operators and authorities should consider when making difficult decisions about reducing services. The report also includes many real life examples and quotes from people affected by service changes. The four main impacts are that passengers could not travel like they used to and passengers made less discretionary trips. “It has made it a bit of a nuisance. You don’t want to be somewhere three hours before you come back. You’re just killing time.” 1. Dependency on others increased and an awkwardness to ask for lifts and their travel plans now being contingent on others “Got to rely on people to go shopping, that’s a lifestyle change to rely on other people.” 2. Sometimes passenger paid more by using taxis or other paid means of transport “It’s cost me a lot more money in taxis, about £7 each way, £14 for the whole fare. It’s a big difference from £2.70 or £3.” 3. Lack of spontaneity as fewer services on fewer days reduced the opportunity to decide on the day to go out "I have to plan more carefully. I can’t decide to go out at the last minute.” You can download the report by visiting www.passengerfocus.org.uk always looking to make cuts. “Pensioners that vote may think that they have still got their concessionary fares but it’s a bus pass to nowhere with this axe hanging over services,” he warned. Returning to the issue of organisation, Keith Saunders- Hole points out that bus members also take part in the wider life of the union through the union’s regional council. “It is a myth that bus workers never mix with rail and maritime workers, we all meet together and share ideas at RMT regional council,” he says. The message coming out of the South West is that organising at the workplace, engaging with members issues and representing their interests is an approach that pays off. ORGANISATION: RMT regional organiser Phil Bialyk, South Devon Bus branch secretary Dave Gileby, RMT lead rep Ian Hodges and Exeter No2 branch secretary Keith Saunders-Hole BUS RESEARCH WARNS OF REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE