Following recent criticism of discontinued, infrequent, late or non-existent bus services in the Borough, now is the time for residents to make their feelings about public transport known.
Better promotion of routes, price-capping and improvements to Bedford Bus Station are just some of the suggestions already put forward as part of the Council’s consultation on public transport.
The council is inviting the views of public transport users, businesses and visitors regarding local bus services and public transport in general in a public consultation that concludes at 23:59 on Wednesday, 31 January 2024.
To find out more and take part in the survey, please visit: bedford.gov.uk/your-council/have-your-say/consultations/bus-usage-survey-2024
The council says the feedback will play a crucial role in shaping its forthcoming Public Transport Policy and anyone with views on the subject is urged to take part.
A report presented to the council’s Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 18 January revealed that eight bus services in Bedford borough have been cancelled since Summer 2022.
Five of these were routes financially supported by the council.
Opportunities missed
Asked for his views on how services could be improved, Colin Franklin of the Bedford Area Bus Users Society (BABUS) told the Bedford Independent that bus companies do not do enough to promote their services to the wider community.
“There is nothing at Bedford Bus Station, yet there is a golden opportunity to re-use the old Mobility Shop on the concourse,” said Colin.
“However, neither the Borough Council nor any of the bus companies seem able to find a way to utilise this abandoned asset. They should be targeting car users to use their bus services to free up road space and increase bus usage.”
“Yet they expect local authorities to subsidise some of their services where they cross a local authority boundary.
“Now, as you know there are some local authorities who are strapped for cash, or have local councillors who don’t want taxpayers money supporting the bus network. This then begs the question, what is Bedford Borough Council’s policy of supporting bus services, improving them and the bus infrastructure that supports the bus network?
“I’ve not heard anything from the Borough Council. Do they have an “Action Plan” in order to address this?”
Councillor Jim Weir (Conservative), Deputy Mayor and portfolio holder for environment, highways, and transport, is hoping that the results of the consultation will inform an ‘action plan’ and he said the council was committed to, “establishing a more sustainable and accessible public transport system.”
“I urge everyone to participate in the consultation. By taking part in the survey, individuals can contribute to the development of a public transport system that aligns with the needs and preferences of the community,” said Cllr Weir.
“Since the pandemic, the amount of people using buses has declined. We need to ensure future routes are viable and are meeting the new demand.”
Green Party councillors are also urging residents to take part in the survey.
“Not having a car, I regularly use buses, which as many residents of my ward know, are a great, Green, way of getting around,” said Cllr Ben Foley (Greyfriars).
“Importantly buses are affordable for those of us who find keeping a car is too expensive. There are also people who live in town centre flats that have been built (or converted) without car parking, who need to rely on buses.
“As Greens we are also concerned about Disabled people right across the Borough who aren’t allowed to drive (whether due to blindness, epilepsy, diabetes or another condition). All these people need a good bus service.
“This means it is important to tell the council what you need and what you would like, or what stops you using the buses if you don’t use them.
“There is a danger that services will be cut or be made more expensive if we don’t tell the council what we want, so I would urge people to fill in the consultation form.”
