Any Journey is Greener by Bus

Passenger experiences of modern bus services

GREENER BY BUS

LOWCVP 2 Contents

Introduction 4

Oxford 8

Manchester 10

Bristol 12

Nottingham 14

York 16

Reading 18

London 20

Birmingham 22

Milton Keynes 24

Aberdeen 25

The way forward 26 CONTENTS

3 Introduction Without the support and patronage of customers, no market is likely to thrive. This study looks at how bus usership has grown in many places that have adopted new and innovative approaches including greener buses; at how collaboration A series of reports about between key stakeholders is producing positive outcomes greener buses and changing perceptions.

The first report in this series – The Journey of the Green Bus – explained how the evolution that has taken Passenger experiences place over the last 10-20 years has resulted in the introduction of greener, cleaner buses in the UK Through a series of individual case studies the report which are helping deliver on climate and air quality describes how buses can meet demand for almost every objectives. The second report – A Green Bus for Every type of journey – from city centres to park and ride services Journey – showed how the latest buses employing a and inter-city commutes; helping users travel to school, range of fuels from biodiesel and biomethane, through shops, work, enhancing social lives and providing efficient a wide spectrum of hybrid options to full battery access to a wide range of services. electric and hydrogen fuel cells, have been embraced by operators across the UK and are gradually It focuses on journeys made by members of the public transforming the sector. travelling by buses and their perceptions of the new services and green buses. Their experiences point to the range of benefits of modal shift to greener buses and how Benefits to bus users these contribute to the wider context of a more efficient, and society clean and sustainable transport system.

This new study focuses on the experience of bus users Bus benefits include – but are not limited to – and the wider benefits of the bus to society and to the reduced congestion and noise, more convenient cities and communities in which they operate. Any and less stressful travel, improved access to Journey is Greener by Bus approaches the situation mobility and less pressure on space and cost for from the perspective of the passenger and those most parking and other uses. directly affected by the developments in buses.

4 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK Transport statistics1 show: Journeys by bus in Great Britain represent 62% of all journeys by public transport and 28% In the UK there were 5.2 billion passenger of total passenger miles travelled in 2014/15 journeys by local bus in 2015 Local bus trips account for nearly two- Half of all bus journeys in England were thirds of all public transport journeys made in London, where passenger bus trips have increased by nearly a third Bus use is highest amongst those aged since 1995 17-20 and 60+ years, and decreases as household income increases. Bus travel Outside London, the greatest regional increase is the most common mode of transport2 in passenger journeys in the last decade for secondary school children travelling has been in the South East and South West over two miles

A series of reports have been issued over recent show exactly where buses are, evidence clearly shows the years that highlight the links between buses and speed and reliability of services can be improved through economic growth.34567 bus priority measures and that bus use can dramatically increase when such measures are implemented.

The bus contributes to a fairer and more equal society by ensuring that, regardless of background, people have the access they need to mobility.

Buses are vital particularly in larger urban areas, where research shows that as many as a third of the workforce commute by bus, with one-tenth of bus users either unable to find work, or more productive work, without access to a bus. Large numbers of secondary school and college students are frequent bus users.

Wolverhampton real-time information display Buses support business, assist in the efficiency of the labour market, enable access to education, training and better jobs, and are a facilitator of maintaining Research shows that consumers place bus journey times a mobile workforce with access to a wide range of and reliability high up on their agenda when considering community facilities. whether to convert a car (or other) journey to one by bus. While operators have embraced information technology to

1 DfT Transport Statistics Great Britain 2015 2 DfT National Travel survey 2014: Travel to School factsheet 3 Greener Journeys 2011, A step change for Britain’s buses: Maximising the economic, social and environmental potential 4 University of Leeds 2012, Institute of Transport Studies: Buses and Economic Growth 5 PTEG 2013:The case for the Urban Bus. The economic and social value of Bus Networks in Metropolitan Areas 6 PTEG 2014: Making the connections: The cross-sector benefits of supporting bus services

7 University of Leeds 2014, Institute of Transport Studies: Buses and the Economy II INTRODUCTION

5 ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS Authorities with focus on Bus use in London declined slightly in 2015/16 after being steady for a number of years, but there has been green buses buck national a longer term growth in usership in the capital (up 6% trend in patronage in the last ten years on a journeys-per-head basis). While statistics collected locally do not always tally with national numbers for a variety of reasons, there UK bus use has fallen by around 7% over the last six years are indications of a positive correlation between the according to the latest DfT statistics.8 However, many introduction of greener buses and their usage by authorities that adopted a particular focus on bus use, passengers. There are, no doubt, many other factors including the introduction of low emission buses and at play including the focus on reducing congestion related technology, have bucked the national trend. and local pollution which are pushing in the same Bristol, Reading and Milton Keynes have been star direction. However, it seems that in many cases performers with bus patronage increasing 19%, 17% and green bus adoption is clearly part of a ‘virtuous mix’ 15% respectively over the last six years, while Oxfordshire of policy solutions. is also up 12% in the same period. After an earlier dip, York too has increased bus use 7% since 2012.9

Case studies In the UK’s largest cities, more than a quarter of the working Local authorities in England (outside of London), with some of the highest bus use include Nottingham, population travel to work by bus. Reading, York, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Greater In the UK, 91% of people are within Manchester and Oxford. Most of these have seen increases in bus use over recent years. a 13 minute walk of a bus stop with at least an hourly service; something In many of the featured cities, the adoption of greener buses has occurred alongside which cannot be matched by any increases of up to 20% in bus usership, defying other form of public transport. the national trend. All of these cities are notable in that they are amongst the front-runners in the introduction of innovative measures A recent study10 published on the value of local bus services to improve bus services including the acquisition of to society continues to highlight that accessibility to bus cleaner and low emission vehicles and all have above journeys is particularly important to those unemployed, average levels of bus use. This points to the fact that those on low incomes, children and the elderly. investing in modern, efficient operation of low emission bus fleets can help act as a stimulus to local bus use, and The analysis shows that neighbourhoods with also contributes to the promotion of public transport better local bus connectivity are more likely to choices that can provide significant economic and social have lower levels of economic, social and benefits to the community. environmental deprivation. There is no one single solution that has been adopted Over the last six years, bus use (in terms of passenger by these cities, but they have all begun a process of journeys per head of population) has declined by around introducing low carbon, low emission buses into their 7% across England, but in several leading cities - many of fleets as part of an ambition to promote sustainable them featured in this publication – bus use has risen by up public transport across the country. to 20% over the same period.

8 Annual bus statistics, DfT, Oct 2016 9 Annual bus statistics, DfT, Oct 2016. Passenger journeys on local bus services per head by local authority 10 Greener Journeys A study of the value of local bus services to society

6 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK Research of thecity’s Low Emission BusZone. have madeanimpactintheoperation introduce diesel-electrichybrids that and busrefuelling stationinScotland. fully integrated hydrogen production on-site hydrogen production;thefirst supplied byarefuelling stationwith of ten hydrogen-powered buses, recognition withEurope’s largestfleet range-extended diesel-electrichybrids. based onelectric,hydrogen, and buses across central Londonby2020, and theoperation ofzero emission Bus Zonesonthemostpolluted routes, Zone, theintroductionofLow Emission introduction ofanUltra Low Emission 12 11 ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS GREENER IS JOURNEY ANY use ifthebuswas notavailable. emissions from busoperations withthosefrom car carbon emissions by75% ormore whencomparing in themajorurbancentres maywell bereducing

Oxford wasoneofthefirst citiesto Aberdeen hasworldwide London isworkingtowards the What istheenvironmental valueofinvestment to increase the useofbuses? (DavidSimmondsConsultancy 2012) The numberofpassenger journeys inLondon hasincreased by27% inthe10years toLondon’s 2015/16. populationgrowth hasreduced theperheadusage. 11 shows thatthebest-usedbusservices BIRMINGHAM ABERDEEN BRISTOL

NOTTINGHAM OXFORD opportunities forall. inequality andprovide greater and training locations,totackle deprived areas tokey employment transport connectionsfromthemost investing inhighquality, affordable car, isaimingtobeaworld leaderin of householdshave noaccess toa hubs andthecitycentre. outlying parkandridesite withrail of segregated buslanes linkingan transit network,withabout30miles a low emission bus-based rapid introducing theMetroBusProject, in providing asimple, affordable ensure thatbusesplaya central role Greater Manchester, where 31% Bristol isintheprocess of Nottingham hasavisionto YORK MANCHESTER GREATER MILTON KEYNES LONDON emission fuelsandtechnologies. vehicles designedto benefit from alternative low alongside theintroduction ofnew operations and demand for fast andefficientpublic transport, the combinedchallengeofstimulatinggreater these cities,andothers across theUK,are embracing The seriesofcasestudiesthatfollow highlight how awarded GoUltra Low Cityfunding. bus fleetsinEurope, andhasbeen The cityhasoneofthelargestelectric investments inthelocalbusnetwork. system, whichhasledtosignificant and integrated publictransport in favour ofthebus. how they’re encouraging modalshift users andthere’s already evidenceof ‘brands’ have beenwelcomed bybus ‘Crimson and(future) bus ‘Sprint’ of passenger benefits.The‘Platinum’, low emissions, offering awide range some state-of-the-art buses,alsowith emission fuelsby2018. to electric,gasorotherultra-low the CAZwillberequired toupgrade buses. Busesfrequently entering city centre asaCleanAirZonefor key toplansinYorkestablishthe low emission busfleetshasbecome electric busesin2014.Developing in theUKtointroduceanew fleetof forefront ofcleanerand smarter travel. in 2016,thecityaimstostayat City andLow Emission Busfunding with theaward ofbothGoUltra Low Transport Systems Catapultand, wireless charging.As homeofthe supporting initiatives, including of ultra-low emission vehicles and has beenoneoftheleadingadopters fully electricbusroute intheUKand Birminghamhasbeenintroducing York becameoneofthefirst cities Milton Keynes openedthefirst 7 INTRODUCTION An easier, greener way to the city centre Oxford

Oxford’s transport strategy, which is supported by both the County and City Councils, focuses on cutting pollution and minimising climate impacts. Oxford has 17 hybrid buses running on the 300, 400 and 500 park and ride routes which take visitors into the city centre.

xford’s transport networks have historically been O developed to provide access to the centre, but Improving the passenger future networks will need to carry people to areas of employment, and regional transport hubs. A high experience – Oxford capacity zero emission bus rapid transit system using Bus priority in city centre electric buses (or advanced hybrids with an electric drive Restricted supply and high cost of car parking in mode) is planned to link to transport hubs, including central area a network of new park and ride sites with the major Multi-operator ticketing employment and housing growth areas around the city. Bus gates to restrict other vehicles’ access Provision of real time bus information A Quality Bus Partnership Agreement, involving With 20% of commuting to workplace journeys taking an integrated smartcard ticketing system place by bus in 2011, Oxford has one of the highest levels of bus usership for commuting in the UK. The continued For the future… promotion of policies to improve bus services has led The bus to be a key component of public to significant growth in bus use, and a positive level of transport network An integrated network providing high quality public engagement with travel by bus. infrastructure Development of mass rapid transit systems Bus use in Oxfordshire has risen 12% since 2009/10 New outer ring of park and ride sites using with 6.5 million more passenger journeys13 green buses Zero (or low) emission central zone proposed

13 UK Bus Passenger Statistics, DfT 2016, Passenger journeys by head of population

8 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK looking foraparkingspace. Overall getting thetrain ordrivingaround quicker togetintotown rather than service isbothfrequent andmakes it in thecitycentre. She says thebus of thefirst areas consideringa Zero Emission Zone 2010; aLow Emission Zone in2014.Oxford isone An AirQualityManagementArea was declared in million passengers covered nearlyathousandmiles,carryingthree In thelastyear, Oxford’s parkandrideservices use comprisesaround athird ofthesejourneys sustainable methods(bus,cycle, walking); bus 68% ofjourneys withinOxford cityare by Greener BusFacts OXFORD ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS GREENER IS JOURNEY ANY JULIA WALKER BUSPASSENGER, OXFORD will affect my children andfuture generations.” warming maynothave much impactinmy lifetime butit can tell himthatItravelled onagreen bus today. Global “It’s very important to my sonto begreen. I’m sogladI J service asit’s cheaperthanparking ulia Walker chosetheparkandride

Julia Walker The passenger’s view OXFORD from theshops.” drops meofftwo minutes’ walk “The serviceiseasy to useandit home tothecitycentre. her journeytakes 35 minutes from

are anticipated 2031; over 4,500extra return bustripsperday and jobsgrowth isexpected between 2011and A 25%increase injourneys dueto population incidents were down sharply 14) alongbuspriorityroutes –andhigh pollution NOx emissions were down byover 20%(2011- introduce Low Emission Buses Stagecoach received Green BusFundsupportto Operators Oxford BusCompany and should begreen. important toherchildren thatthebus London. Shesaidthatit’s particularly Oxford Tube coachserviceinto use theparkandridetocatch the the 400serviceshedoessometimes Although Juliadoesn’t regularly use 9 OXFORD MONTY PHOTO

The essential commute Manchester

Outside London, Greater Manchester authority has the second highest level of bus use. Manchester’s population is expected to grow faster than any of England’s other major cities.

us travel is the single most used mode of public 4.5 mile guided busway B transport in Greater Manchester; nearly 210 million bus passenger journeys take place each year across the with park and ride city region. The guided busway is a length of specially designed track The ‘premium’ Vantage routes (V1 and V2) run by First which provides a dedicated obstruction and congestion- Group are part of the Bus Priority Package that TfGM free route and guides the buses along using small wheels has been implementing since 2012. The buses use attached to the sides. The track, which runs between Leigh new hybrid technology which cuts engine noise and and Ellenbrook, was constructed on the site of what was an vibrations on the bus, improving passenger comfort. old railway line, so much of the route is straight. Once on The buses also have faux ‘e-leather’ seating with a the track, the bus driver maintains a steady speed between cushioned head rest. There are two tables on the upper stops and doesn’t have to do any steering (though keeps deck where up to four passengers can face each other his/her hands on the wheel!). Travelling at a steady speed and there’s also free WiFi on board. means that the bus can run efficiently and provide comfort for passengers without having to compete with vehicles on Use of the Vantage routes has grown from 28,000 the busy East Lancashire Road. to approaching 50,000 passengers a week in the first eight months of operation, leading to services At three stops along the guided busway there are park and being increased. ride sites enabling access to the town centre by bus.

Investment in transport infrastructure is one of the key Over 50% of the current Greater Manchester bus drivers of economic growth in Greater Manchester as the fleet now achieves the Euro V emissions standard centre of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ region. The current or better. investment programme represents the biggest transport investment programme in the UK outside London.

10 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK T taking thebusasitprotects himfrom Ahmed doesn’t own acarandlikes direct toSalford University campus. city centre. TheVantage V1takes him connect withtheVantage businthe bus twiceaweek fromhishometo Salford. Hetakes the192 Stagecoach the passenger experience quality ofbusesto lower emissions andimprove The transport authorityaimsto improve the compared withcaruse (TfGM data) for publictransport users are less thanhalfthose Emissions perpassenger/mile inGreater Manchester being themainoperators Manchester, withFirst, Stagecoach andArriva Over 600busservicesare registered inGreater Greener BusFacts MANCHESTER ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS GREENER IS JOURNEY ANY AHMED MUJTABA KHANBUSPASSENGER, MANCHESTER technologies like thesehybrids.” becoming ancientandwe needto embrace new “All busesshouldbelike this.Fossil fuelsare a computer sciencestudentat wenty-five year oldAhmedis

Ahmed Mujtaba Khan The passenger’s view MANCHESTER buses, theairconditioningworks also agoodtemperature onthe buses offer more legroom.“There’s comfortable especiallyastheVantage He findstravelling bybus very as itcangetmehomequickly.” advantage ifIstudylate inthelibrary the weather. Hesays: “It’s alsoan

reached 50%ofbusesat Euro Vorbetter The Greater Manchester busfleethasalready in thecity(2016) Around 300low emission busesare inoperation environment.” mean they’re better for the quieter andthestop-start must “The new busesare definitely comfortable.” well whichmakes my journeymore 11 MANCHESTER The essential integrated transport link Bristol

Bristol, with a population of approximately 450,000, is the largest city in the South West, and a key transport hub in the centre of the West of England. A significant port, the city is well connected to the motorway network and also has its own airport.

ublic transport – and buses, in particular – are a Bristol’s new MetroBus initiative is a rapid public transport P main focus for investment aimed at improving local system designed to quickly transport large numbers of people access and mobility as well as tackling local and national using a combination of about 30 miles of segregated busways emissions targets. and bus lanes. Through integration with the Urban Traffic Control system and provision of at-stop and Smart ticketing The current transport plan is owned jointly by the four facilities, this will ensure a fast, reliable, express service councils of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City, between 94 strategically placed stops and link outlying North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. park and ride sites, rail hubs, the airport and the city centre with major educational, retail and employment areas. The Greater Bristol Bus Network is a collaboration between the four councils in partnership with the local MetroBus aims to provide more people with access to bus operator First Bristol. The introduction of Quality employment, education and leisure opportunities. It uses low Partnership Schemes (supported by Voluntary Partnership emission vehicles, integrated ticketing between the different Agreements) in all ten corridors is expected to attract public transport modes, and sets minimum standards for investment by all local bus operators and the local frequencies, the quality of vehicles and maximum fares. authorities, increasing bus use in the city. Bus use in Bristol has risen by nearly 20% since 2009-1014 Investment in improvements in ten ‘showcase’ corridors has resulted in greater reliability and shorter journey times for over 70 different bus services.

14 DfT Annual Bus Statistics, Oct 2016 – earlier reference

12 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK K bus stops untilitgetsinto town; it’s like anexpress.” any otherbus.Italsodoesn’t stop atany ofthenormal “We jumponthisserviceasit’s justascheapgetting KELLY JACOBS BUSPASSENGER, BRISTOL “because thekidsreally wanted tosit particularly wanted togetthebus market. Kelly explained thatthefamily service tovisitBristol’s Christmas 15 ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS GREENER IS JOURNEY ANY has helpedto increase buspatronage The lower andsimplified fares policyofFirst Bus 34 StreetDeck micro-hybrid buses were addedto theBristol fleetin2016including 58 low carbon-certified double-decker buses 99 low emission busesoperate inBristol (2016); Greener BusFacts BRISTOL

Source West ofEnglandJLTP3, p7 the Brislingtonparkandride elly Jacobs andherfamily used Bristol’s iconiclocationsto ‘warmup’ visitors coming charging, andfeature anumberofhistoric facts about Bath Road parkandridesites offer free WiFi andUSB The hybrid busesthatservicetheBrislington and Park andRide

The Jacobs Family The passenger’s view BRISTOL novelty forthekidsandtheyenjoy to theparkandride. It’s quite a only £3foranadultandchildreturn She said:“It’s pretty cheapforus; upstairs onthedouble-decker”.

enjoy free travel onotherbusroutes inandaround Bristol. frequent express serviceinto thetown centre andalso Visitors canparktheircars alldayandjump onthe network, makingtravel easierandquicker. at theparkandridewhichcanthenbeusedonbus into thetown. Visitors cantop uptheirsmarttravel cards Checker appin2015,with75,000 downloads 5,500 peopleperdayusedTravelwest’s Bus roll-out ofthetechnology isunderconsideration powered biomethanebus.Ajointbidfor alarger trialled ahumansewage andfood waste- Bath BusCompany andFirstGroup have both it simpletogetinandoutoftown.” to thedayoutforkidsandmakes window topressing thebell.Itadds everything fromlookingoutthe 15

13 BRISTOL Accessing essential services, work, hospitals and schools Nottingham

Nottingham, with a population of about 320,000, has been focused on encouraging sustainable and healthy travel. Smarter choices measures and travel planning are seen as keys to encouraging and increasing walking, cycling and public transport use.

ottingham has the highest level of bus use per Construction of an ‘Eco Expressway’ began in October 2016 N person of any city in the country outside London.16 to include about 3 miles of bus (and ULEV) priority lanes.

Nottingham and Derby are two of the five cities in the UK, As an added incentive for local residents and businesses to apart from London, identified as set to fail to achieve air invest in cleaner vehicles, electric cars, taxis and vans will quality objectives by 2020. They’re required to develop be allowed to use the bus lane along the route. Clean Air Zones (CAZ) and are working on plans to deliver them. Increasing bus use and introducing cleaner Nottingham has the second highest level of bus use bus technologies are expected to be central to the plans. in England outside of London, accounting for 75% of the public transport trips in the city.

“The Eco Expressway is an exciting new Over £750m has been invested in Nottingham’s bus and development that grows our commitment to tram network over the last decade, helping to deliver low emission transport further. It will provide significant increases in the numbers of passengers carried. quicker and cleaner travel and help to improve Nottingham now has the second highest level of bus the city’s air quality. The new all-electric passenger journeys per head in England. buses are an exciting step forward towards sustainable transport in the city.” When tram passenger use is taken together with CLLR NICK MCDONALD bus use in Greater Nottingham, there has been a Portfolio Holder for Growth and Transport, Nottingham City Council. combined increase of 15% of passengers between 2003 and 2015.17

16 149.2 passenger journeys per person in 2015-16. DfT, Oct 2016, Bus Statistics 17 Source - DfT Annual Bus Statistics 2014-15

14 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK P points aroundthecity. card, toppingupcredit atconvenient and train servicesusingonesmart allows users totravel onbus, tram system called‘RobinHood’which Nottingham hasanintegrated travel Integrated Travel inNottingham Nottingham: “Itcansometimesbe use thebuswhencominginto Pauline owns acarbutchoseto for anappointmentattheCityHospital. Medical Centre (QMC) inNottingham Medilink servicefromtheQueens bus serviceover thelastten years Improvements inNottingham’s and pollutingemissions savings of£300,000, andhascutcarbon dioxide travelled onemillionmiles,generated cost Since 2012Nottingham’s electricbusfleethas by electricbuses The MedilinkandLocalink networks are serviced Greener BusFacts NOTTINGHAM ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS GREENER IS JOURNEY ANY

Accessibility: Upfrom84%to93%. Satisfaction: Upfrom85% to95% Punctuality: Upfrom82%to95% to 55.3million 48.3 millionpassengers peryear Bus/tram patronage: Upfrom Community Transport (NCT) auline caughtthefree Nottingham

Pauline Mercer The passenger’s view NOTTINGHAM

without any fuss –ittakes me hop from onebusonto thenext to thebusstop andIcansimply have avery shortwalk from home “The busisalsovery easy to use, I my youthitcostsmenothing.” as Ihave free bustravel onaccountof very hard tofinda parking spaceand ‘Eco Hub’ Park andRide Queens Drive walks. Visitors caneven dotheirrecycling atthelocation. the optionto hire bikes from thesite, whichconnects to several woodland there are spacesreserved for Nottingham’s own CityCarClub. There’s also city’s hospitals.Visitors withelectriccars cancharge theirvehicles and Visitors cantravel onthefree all-electricMediLinkroute to eitherofthe services atits‘Eco Hub’. also hostsamultitudeofother and to Nottingham citycentre bybus provides quickandeasy access The QueensDrive Park andRide

fleet to fullyelectric vehicles Nottingham isconverting itstendered ‘Linkbus’ for introduction inearly2017 53 biomethanedouble-decker busesare planned fleet inEurope BYD electricvehicles; thelargest electricbus being joinedbyanextra 13range-extended Nottingham has58electricbuseswhichare search foraparkingspace.” the stress ofhaving tositintraffic or and enjoytheviews andIdon’t have pleasant, itallows metoswitch off Pauline adds:“Thejourney is Pauline Mercer, buspassenger. straight to thehospital.” 15 NOTTINGHAM Bringing people to enjoy the historic city centre York

York is focusing on managing the volume of traffic in the city, promoting a shift away from private car use to alternatives including walking, cycling and low emission public transport. This includes enabling priority access for only the lowest emission buses, lorries and taxis to the areas of the city with the poorest air quality.

ne of the UK’s first fleets of electric buses was O introduced to the city in 2014. Low emission buses are key to establishing the centre of York as a Clean Air Zone (CAZ). Buses frequently entering the CAZ will be required to upgrade to electric, gas or other ultra-low emission fuels by 2018.

There was a dip in bus use in York in 2012-13, but in the last three years there has been an encouraging increase.

In the last three years bus use per person in York has increased by over 7%, representing over 600,000 extra bus passenger journeys each year.18 Poppleton Bar Electric Bus Park and Ride “Over four million passenger journeys are made on York’s park and ride every year, making this York’s Poppleton Bar service was one of the UK’s first one of the most used services of its kind in the UK.” all-electric park and ride routes. Six Optare buses offer a ANDREW BRADLEY smooth, quiet, zero emission ride into the city centre. Six Sustainable Transport Manager, City of York Council. more electric buses began operating from the Mons Cross Park and Ride site in November 2016.

18 Source: DfT, Bus Statistics, Oct 2016

16 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK M famous CliftonTower. visited theYorkMuseumand £1 busservice, theHustwitshad advantage ofthefree parkingand had beensightseeing.Taking full from York’s citycentre where they service forthefirst timeto return MR HUSTWIT BUSPASSENGER, YORK quieter thanyour standard bus.” work justlike anormal oneanditcouldeven beslightly “We hadn’t realised itwas anelectricbus.Itseemsto during dailyoperation each parkandridesite to top upbusbatteries A 50kWrapid charger hasbeeninstalled at buses since2014 First York hasoperated 12Optare Versa electric promote low emission vehicle uptake eight citieschosenfor ‘GoUltra Low’ status to York was selected bytheGovernment asoneof Greener BusFacts YORK ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS GREENER IS JOURNEY ANY Poppleton BarPark andRide r &Mrs Hustwitusedthe

Mr &Mrs Hustwit The passenger’s view YORK

safer thandrivingattimes.” Mrs Hustwitadded:“It’s probably and itfeels toodangeroustocycle.” bus removes thestress fromtravelling parking spotelsewhere… takingthe clock aswe wouldhave doneina town. “We didn’t have towatch the easier andcheaperthandrivinginto Mr Hustwitsaidtheparkandridewas nitrogen oxide emissions selective catalytic reduction technology to cut 28 schoolbusesinYork are to befitted with transport NOxemissions would result ina70% reduction inroad buses couldtheoretically goelectric,which A York CityCouncil studyfound 80%ofallcity converted from dieselto electricpower Six sightseeingdouble-decker buseshave been contribute, thenwe are allforthat.” bus ismore efficientandwillhelp travel hasontheenvironment; ifthis favour ofreducing theimpactour 20 minutes. Theysaid:“We’re allin The Hustwits’journeytookaround 17 YORK Serving the student community Reading

Reading is in the heart of the Thames Valley and has a population of 315,000 (with Wokingham included) and a thriving local economy. Reading Buses operates the majority of bus services in the district, together with First Berkshire, Arriva South East, and Thames Travel.

eading Buses has adopted a ‘colour-coding’ scheme Recent annual bus statistics20 show Reading is ranked as the R for each route and this, combined with a determined local authority with the third highest level of bus passenger customer focus and the active promotion of low emission use per head in England (outside of London). fleets, has helped to encourage bus use in the town. Reading Buses – Leopard Route Reading has seen a very impressive 17% increase in bus use in the last six years19. The number 3 “Leopard” route typically runs from Reading rail station to Wokingham via Shinfield and Arborfield, The development of a network of Premier Routes through a which used to be home to a large army barracks. voluntary bus partnership combines service improvements with improved infrastructure, bus priority, real-time The route enables rural commuters to travel into Reading passenger information and static information. These Town to catch the train, visit the Royal Berkshire Hospital initiatives have resulted in higher bus usership than that or the high street and shopping centre. The Leopard observed on other routes. route also has a number of stops which are ‘get off only’, to ensure that the bus is not held up in areas of the town The provision of a high quality bus service across Reading which have large numbers of pedestrians and that it is not has encouraged a move away from private car use in the contributing to congestion. central area.

Lower emission buses, bus priority and real-time information have led to increased passenger numbers on priority routes in Reading.

19 Source: DfT, Oct 2016, Bus Statistics 20 DfT, Oct 2016

18 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK C CAROL WESTLAND BUSPASSENGER, READING look through thewindow atlife goingby.” “It canbevery pleasantonthebus,to switch off and and doesnotown acar, shetravels Reading centre. Asshelives inDidcot Aborfield, around40minutes outside solution to pollutionandcongestion Increasing publictransport tripsisseenasakey the UKto befullyowned bythelocalcouncil Reading Busesisoneofthefew busoperators in Greener BusFacts READING ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS GREENER IS JOURNEY ANY Students canavoid the hassle ofneeding theexact charging points,gamesandajukebox. upstairs zones including anhonestylibrary, free WiFi, USB no chanceofgetting thewrong bus.Theyhave three and allrundirectly onto theUniversity campus,sothere’s They are ultra-clean Euro VIemission standard vehicles specifically withuniversity studentsandstaffin mind. The buseshave aclaret livery andare designed University campusandthetown centre alldayandnight. very frequent services(every 7minutes) between the Students mainlyusethe21&21abuseswhichrun student community Buses servingthe to visithersoninavillagenear arol Westland travels weekly

Carol Westland The passenger’s view READING

couldn’t afford todobytaxi”Carolsays. an hourandahalfit’s oneIsimply station. “Thejourneycantake upto catches theLeopard busfromthe first to Reading bytrain, andthen

videos onyour way to Uni!” send snapsandwatch funny cat have superfast free WiFi soyou can points, gamesandajukebox. They an honestylibrary, USBcharging “Our claret 21sare equippedwith Reading Busesstudentcommunication: live information onthebus. their phoneto buymobiletickets, planjourneys andget journey. Theycandownload theReading Busesappto ‘simplyUni’ smartcard whichcansave them40ponevery money (drivers don’t carrychange) bygetting a prestigious UKBusAwards In 2015Reading Buseswon four ofthe low emission buses electric hybrid busesmaking50%ofitsfleet Reading willsoonhave 50gasand31diesel- listen outformy stop”. the cars aroundme. Ionlyhave to have toworryaboutthenext turnor more interaction thandriving,Idon’t “Public transport hasthebenefitof 19 READING Essential everything; buses for commuting, shopping, leisure, sightseeing… and more London

By 2030 the population of Greater London is forecast to rise by a further 1.5 million to reach 10 million which means that there will be an extra 750,000 jobs all requiring additional transport journeys.

here were around 2.29 billion journeys by bus in the Most London bus users are in full-time employment and T capital in 2015/16. Around 20% of people living in over half of journeys are for the commute to and from work. Greater London commute by bus; a far higher proportion A significant number of passengers also use the bus than for most other parts of the country. 40% of bus for shopping, to visit friends or relations or for other leisure passengers use the services three or more times a week, activities, or to travel to school and other education services.21 compared to only 20% outside of London.

Over one fifth of those living in Greater London 22 commute by bus... over half of the bus use in Bus user facts – London England takes place there. Per person bus use in London has increased 6% in the last 10 years; a 27% increase in the total number To support the introduction of an Ultra Low Emission Zone of bus journeys (ULEZ) from 2019, London will have twelve Low Emission Over a fifth of bus users say they chose to use the Bus Zones on key radial corridors in inner London. All bus instead of their car double-decker buses operating in the Congestion Charge Most bus travellers use an Oyster Travelcard, Pay zone will be hybrid-electric vehicles, and all single-deckers As You Go or other Oyster variants for their journeys More bus users in London during the day are in the zone will have no tailpipe emissions (i.e. they will be women but men are significantly more numerous fully electric or hydrogen models). on night buses In 2013-14 nearly 40% of bus users in London were London will have one of the world’s largest zero- from medium or high-level management jobs (an emission capable fleets. increase from 36% in 2008) Transport for London plans to maximise the number of households within a 5 minute walk from a bus service. The largest group of bus users in London are 25-34 year olds (26%), followed by 35-44 year olds (19%).

21 TfL Bus User Survey 2014 22 TfL Bus User Survey 2014; DfT Annual Bus Statistics, England 2014-15

20 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK D on hersmartphonetofindout the Dóra usedthe route plannerapp Museum inSouthKensington. Oxford Street, headingfortheScience garage, throughtheheartofLondon’s Russell Square toWillesden bus up to 80%runninginelectricmode Inductive charging trialsare taking placeto allow meet theEuro VIstandard by2020 are to beboughtfrom 2018andallbuseswill Only hybrid orzero-emission double-decker buses buses outofafleet 9,300 buses (end-2016) London hasaround 2,000 diesel-electrichybrid Greener BusFacts LONDON ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS GREENER IS JOURNEY ANY 23 introduced. Thesurvey revealed thatoverall satisfaction increased ontheroutes where thenew vehicles have been According toarecent survey byTfL, usersatisfaction has with more duetoenter servicein2017. iconic double-decker Londonbus) now operate inthecity Around 800oftheNew Routemaster buses(replacing the

Passenger Transport, 3June2015 work onthe98whichrunsfrom óra Máté wastravelling from

Dóra Máté The passenger’s view LONDON

getting thebusisgenerally better realise thiswasanelectricbusbut day togetaround.Shesaid:“Ididn’t She usesherOyster travelcard every and muchcheaper”. uses thebusbecauseit’s “direct She doesn’t own acarandsays she quickest route toherdestination.

Eight zero emission hydrogen fuelcellbuses 2,300 busesto cutNOx Selective Catalytic Reduction systems fitted to (followed byroutes 507 &521in2017) World’s first all-electricdouble-decker on route 98 2016 vs 2008 NOx emissions from London’s busfleethalved in Tower Gateway run onroute RV1 between Covent Garden and and innovation around bustravel. Routemasters give customers asenseofprogress Research shows thatthediesel-electrichybrid New buses (87% versus 84% respectively). Routemasters thanamongthosetravelling onstandard was higheramongcustomers travelling ontheNew passenger taking acar.” Dóra Máté, bus better for theenvironment than “…getting thebusisgenerally car anyway.” for theenvironment thantaking a 23

21 LONDON Connectivity beyond the city; driving modal shift Birmingham

National Express, the leading operator in Birmingham and the Black Country, has formed a ‘Bus Alliance’ with the local city and county councils through Transport for the West Midlands and Centro to improve bus services and connectivity throughout the region. The long term aim is to create the ‘Birmingham Tube’ to connect surrounding towns to the UK’s second largest city through a network of bus routes.

New ‘Platinum’, ‘Crimson’ and ‘Sprint’ brands The Bus Alliance plans to invest £150m by 2021 and Three new bus brands are being introduced by the pledges to: Bus Alliance, serving different purposes in the region. ‘Platinum’ and ‘Crimson’ services are already in operation Increase bus patronage by 5% and ‘Sprint’ will enter service in 2017. Improve peak-time journey speeds Limit fare rises and offer discounted youth travel, daily fare capping The new state-of-the-art ‘Platinum’ buses come with Have 80% Euro V and VI buses within three ‘e-leather’ seating, extra legroom, free WiFi and USB years and stop-start technology, resulting in less charging to make passenger journeys more pleasant, pollution and lower carbon emissions and allowing them to stay connected on the move. Maintain customer satisfaction levels at or above 85% Introduce integrated ticketless travel, using After six months in service, Centro surveyed passengers’ mobiles, credit cards, or even people’s watches experiences of the Platinum buses and found 94% Ensure increased investment in highways to aid overall customer satisfaction. journey times and reliability Improve seating, next-stop announcements and WiFi.

22 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK M are modernandclean-we hope “It’s goodtoseebuseslike thiswhich familiar with.” when we’re onabuswe aren’t tells youwhere youare, especially and healthy. We like thevoicewhich get outandabout,whichkeeps usfit our shoppingandthebushelpsus as thejourneyrollsby. We often do enjoy theviews, sittogetherandchat “We enjoythejourneyaswe getto directly where we wanttogo.” bus servicesregularly astheytake us especially asit’s free! We usethe town. We enjoytravelling onthebus, this bushaving taken the97 businto Mrs Davies said:“We’ve jumpedon and Wolverhampton tovisitafriend. ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS GREENER IS JOURNEY ANY Signal 107 DJ,speakingatPlatinumBuslaunchevent DICKY DODD homework onthebus!” school marks-becausenow theycandotheir Wolverhampton willbegetting even better “The USBportsare agreat idea-thekidsof the 126between Birmingham r andMrs Davies travelled on

Mr andMrs Davies The passenger’s view BIRMINGHAM which are modernandclean.” “It’s goodto seebuseslike this much money.” as outsideBirminghamthere isn’t as will take more prideintheirlocalarea, standards upandhopefullypeople local community. It will helpbring station inCoventry isgoodforthe they staythatway. The new bus

the West Midlands.” customers happy andto keep theaircleanacross the amountofpeopletaking thebus,to keep our part oftheWest MidlandsBusAllianceto increase “These beautifulPlatinumbusesare ourpledgeas National Express ManagingDirector Peter Coates: 957, X51,997, 934, 935, 936 and937 routes. Birmingham, Solihull,Coventry andWalsall -onthe900, buses. Theywere first introducedinMay2015 across are lighter andmore fuelefficientthanconventional Built inBritainbyAlexander DennisLtd (ADL),Platinums ability toencourage modalshift. demonstrating theirattractiveness tonew customers and people questionedinthesurvey were new users ofbuses, growth onservicestoBirminghamairport.27% ofthe has seen25%growth andthere hasalsobeen10% statistics sincelaunch:theX51(BirminghamtoWalsall) ‘Happy passengers’ feelings are reflected inpatronage an average man. wheels, whichsave theweight of technology, suchasthealloy the engineandweight saving that reduce thepower drain from new buseshave ‘smart accessories’ As well asstop-starttechnology, the made positive comments.” it looked. Many ofmy passengers with thewayitdrove -andtheway hours lastweek and wasreally pleased the Platinum‘CarolAnn’forfour his late mother-in-lawsaid:“Idrove Matthews whosebusisnamedafter Wolverhampton driver Nigel wear aspecialPlatinumuniform. National Express Platinum drivers

23 BIRMINGHAM From school to social life via shopping! Milton Keynes

At 50 years old, the ‘new’ town of Milton Keynes is built around a grid road system – with its infamous roundabouts - designed for the car. Milton Keynes now, though, is a town embracing bus travel.

ne of this town’s new residents showed how the use bus routes and links to neighbouring towns and to Luton O of the latest technology provides seamless travel airport. In 2014 Milton Keynes was the first to operate a across the bus network. route entirely with electric buses, adopting an innovative combination of charging opportunities; both overnight, Hannah uses a school bus every day for the 19 mile journey at the depot, and by wireless ‘top-up’ at the end of each to Aylesbury, so is very familiar with bus travel. But to route. After the success of this project, the council has access all her extra-curricular activities like street dance committed further funding and, in 2016, was also awarded and self-defence, she finds the ‘live map’ via an app on her £1.75m of central Government Low Emission Bus funding mobile phone ideal, as well as mobile ticketing provided to bring more electric buses to the city. in Milton Keynes. “The buses run every 15 minutes so I can get into the CMK shopping centre whenever I want or, Milton Keynes has also been selected as one of the eight actually, whenever I have any money!” ‘Go Ultra Low’24 City schemes to demonstrate electric vehicle adoption, building on its buses and charge points, “All the buses seem to go to the shopping centre and to with further initiatives for taxis and EV drivers. the station, so it’s very easy to get all over Milton Keynes to my friends and other activities, and with my flute lessons in Wolverton I even get to ride on the electric ones and see where they charge up! I even had to show my dad how to use the buses and all the apps. He’ll be fine as long as he keeps his phone charged!”

Milton Keynes is still the fastest growing town in the UK and the bus routes are constantly evolving and extending into the new residential areas. And even for a town built “The nearest bus stop is only 5 minutes’ walk around the car, the new park and ride with free parking and with the ‘live map’ I can see exactly and just 10 minutes into the centre is proving very popular, where my bus is and whether it’s running as parking at the shops gets more and more difficult and on time, so I can time it perfectly!” expensive (unless you drive an electric car!). HANNAH Sitting almost equidistant between Oxford and Bus passenger, Milton Keynes Cambridge, Milton Keynes is well served by Cross Country

24 http://www.mkgoultralowcity.com/linking-with-other-mk-initiatives

24 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK P ANY JOURNEY IS GREENER BY BUS GREENER IS JOURNEY ANY Europe’s largest fleetof hydrogen fuelcellbuses. budget, hasachieved worldwide recognition with Aberdeen’s Hydrogen BusProject, witha£19m for Hydrogen (2015-2025). Aberdeen hasalsodeveloped aStrategy &Action Plan As well asexpanding thenumbers ofelectricbuses, transport system forthecity. delivering asustainable, integrated andaccessible identified asbeingattheheartofprocess for the commercial busfleet,andserviceshave been Quality Action Planhighlighted theneedtoimprove city’s failure tomeetairqualityobjectives. The2011Air Aberdeen’s policyhasrecently beendriven bythe on access forprivate vehicles. master planseekstoredress thebalanceawayfromafocus of Scotland’s fourmajor cities.However theCityCouncil’s connected to theoilandgasindustry. Aberdeen’s recent history hasbeendominated bythefortunes ofbusinesses Aberdeen showing thelowest rate ofbuspatronage ublic transport hasbeenarelatively low priority, with Aberdeen Reviving bususewithcleanertechnology

MONTY PHOTO emission vehicles introducedto key corridors. Overall, since2012,Aberdeen hasinvested in56new low transport management andtheenforcement ofbuslanes. forum topromote busprioritymeasures, improvements in This involves workingwiththevoluntarybusoperators’ patronage andmakingbustravel amore attractive option. set several specificobjectives, includingincreasing bus The LocalTransport Strategy Action Plan(September 2016) production fromelectrolysis. of-the-art refuelling station,includingon-site hydrogen of ten vehicles fuelledbyhydrogen supplied byastate- Two mainbusoperators, StagecoachandFirst, runafleet Aberdeen, bustraveller (travelling withtwo children) LOUISA MCGUINNESS it’s better for theenvironment.” more... ithelpspeopleget to work ontimeand “Using thebusallows meto seemy mum

25 MILTON KEYNES ABERDEEN The way forward

The case studies in this report provide exemplars for other authorities and s the examples in this report show, effective operators seeking to tackle environmental and social A collaboration between local authorities, bus challenges. But transport and related information operators, manufacturers and other key stakeholders to technologies are evolving very fast, provoking rapid introduce innovative technologies and cleaner vehicles is changes in the way people are moving and how they will helping to revitalise bus use in a number of Britain’s cities. move about in the future. Key actors must continue to keep a close eye on these evolving technologies, embracing the Driven by the imperative to improve air quality and reduce opportunities while guarding against potential threats. carbon emissions, many local authorities have realised that buses represent a key part of the solution. Innovative Bus use will not be driven by the on-board vehicle manufacturers and proactive operators have reacted to this technologies alone. While it’s critical to the continued opportunity, providing new products and services that – in success of the bus industry to be continually adopting the several examples – are being embraced by bus users. latest, cleanest engines and power sources, how operators react to and embrace the revolution in communications Though overall bus use has been in slow decline for some and associated technologies which are enabling the time, there are signs of a renaissance in some cities and emergence of ‘mobility as a service’ will also be vital. regions where operators have introduced not just cleaner vehicle technology but also a host of other innovative Even with these innovations, without solutions to the features – for example real-time travel information, ever-increasing problems caused by traffic congestion, integrated ticketing, free WiFi and charging, improved the appeal of these services to potential passengers seating, shorter journey times, better routing and bus may never be fully realised. priority measures – which are attracting people back to buses, and even out of their cars in some places. Central and local policy makers must keep their eyes on this as well as on the opportunities, continuing to provide In the South of England, where average bus use has, for a supportive environment for operators, with a long-term some time, been lower than in other parts of the country, vision to help encourage the most effective and efficient there are signs of a revival too. Over the last ten years, use of the bus. bus use has grown in the South West and South East of England, suggesting that the balance between private and shared travel for those living in the wealthiest, most “The electric buses have proved extremely congested, parts of the country may be gradually shifting popular with 3% year-on-year increases in in favour of the bus. ‘Peak car’ may not yet be widespread, patronage on Route 7. The original forecast but there could be signs of its emergence here. was for 700,000 passengers but they are now carrying one million per year and there may It’s clear that buses can be part of a modern, integrated be a need to put more buses on the route.” transport solution. As well as reducing pollution, they also help cut congestion and meet targets around equality of BRIAN MATTHEWS access, providing a ‘win-win’ for policy makers and the Head of Transport Innovation, Milton Keynes Council public in many settings.25

25 A study of the value of local bus services to society’ KPMG, 2016, for Greener Journeys

26 WWW.LOWCVP.ORG.UK

REPORT PRODUCED BY THE LOW CARBON VEHICLE PARTNERSHIP FOR GREENER JOURNEYS

Greener Journeys is a campaign dedicated to encouraging people to make more sustainable travel choices. It is a coalition of the UK’s leading public transport organisations, user groups and supporters. It aims to reduce CO2 emissions from transport by encouraging people to switch some of their car journeys to bus or coach instead. Switching from car to bus for just one journey a month would mean one billion fewer car journeys on our roads and would save two million tonnes of

CO2 every year. For more information visit www.greenerjourneys.com

he LowCVP was established in 2003 as a Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership T public–private partnership working to accelerate 3 Birdcage Walk, London, SW1H 9JJ a sustainable shift to lower carbon vehicles and T +44 (0)20 7304 6880 fuels and create opportunities for UK business. E [email protected] Around 200 organisations are engaged from diverse www.lowcvp.org.uk backgrounds including automotive and fuel supply @theLowCVP chains, vehicle users, academics, environmental groups and others. TheLowCVP