MORE BUS FUNDING ANNOUNCED

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2020 :: RMTnews 20 R MT has welcomed the government’s renewed focus on bus services, which have been in decline for many years, and are an essential public service for all of our communities. Since 2010, over 3,000 bus services have been cut or withdrawn – and for many years, the number of bus passenger journeys has fallen, thus urgent action is needed to reverse these cuts and revive our bus networks. Bus fares continue to rise, disproportionately affecting passengers in rural and non- metropolitan areas and local authorities remain prohibited from running bus services in the public sector. This is why RMT has been urging the government to ensure its National Bus Strategy acts on the recommendation of the Transport Select Committee and allows local authorities to set up publicly owned municipal bus companies. This would allow them to run bus services directly rather than presiding over continual decline. In a statement to Parliament, the PM announced a £5 billion of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for every region outside London. The package of investment is set to include: • Higher frequency services, including evenings and weekends, to make it easier and less restrictive for people to get around at any time of day • More ‘turn up and go’ routes where, thanks to higher frequency, people won’t have to rely on timetables to plan journeys • New priority schemes will make routes more efficient, so that buses avoid congested routes and can speed passengers through traffic • More affordable, simpler fares • At least 4,000 new Zero Emission Buses to make greener travel the convenient option, driving forward the UK’s progress on its net zero ambitions RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that bus services are a vital lifeline for millions of people, connecting communities and preventing social isolation. "While we await further details of how this funding will be allocated, RMT is seeking urgent meetings with ministers to ensure that the experiences of bus workers are incorporated into its Bus Strategy, which is due to be published later in the year. "Bus workers know first-hand how cuts to bus services impact communities, affecting access to vital services such as health, education and work, thus it is vital that the government’s Bus Strategy listens to our bus workers,” he said. MORE BUS FUNDING ANNOUNCED RMT seeks meetings with ministers to ensure experiences of bus workers are incorporated into new £5 billion Bus Strategy