Your Vision for Buses Moving to a green, healthy, dynamic and thriving North East Contents Foreword Bus services are hugely important to people in Bus operators across the region have been Foreword 2 the North East and help thousands of passengers investing to transform and improve services Executive Summary 3 travel every day to access work, education or for a number of years, seeing the first growth leisure. We know that bus use in our region is in passenger numbers in a decade just before Introduction 4 bouncing back amongst the fastest in the UK, our the pandemic hit. Covid 19 has had a dramatic network is responsible for over a staggering 160 impact on the region, changing the ways people What do you think 5 million journeys each year, so it’s clear to see the think and travel. A deep collaborative effort critical role buses play in the lives of local people. between the region's bus operators, the Metro and Local Transport Authorities has steered our Buses – the heart of our network 6 When we consulted on the North East Transport public transport network through the depths of Plan, the public asked loud and clear for a local the pandemic, showing what can be achieved by How people travel now 8 bus strategy; people want to know what our plans working together in partnership and delivering for are to improve the bus network. Working closely the changing needs of customers. Shaping a green recovery 10 with regional bus operators, we are developing an North East Transport Plan – our guiding objectives 12 enhanced partnership which will help to secure The National Bus Strategy gives a pathway to the future Government funding and reshape our bus ambition of much stronger alignment between the Creating a carbon neutral North East 13 network, making it better, more efficient and user- highway network, bus services and their users, friendly for passengers. considerably raising the profile of the role of buses and enabling them to provide even better Overcoming inequality and growing our economy 14 We want to know what the public think about our standards of service to keep the region moving plans so far and I urge people to get involved in and support its economic, air quality and active Buses for a healthier North East 15 the Big Bus Conversation to join this important travel needs. discussion. We need to take action to encourage Appealing, Sustainable Choices 16 people out of their cars and onto sustainable The development of Bus Service Improvement Safe and Secure public transport 17 public transport as the region recovers from the Plans for the North East is a partnership effort impact of the pandemic. Tell us how we can help between the bus operators and local authorities, Buses are key to delivering our transport ambitions 18 you to do that. We are listening and now is the focused on the outcomes for passengers. Brave time to let us know what you’d like to see. and bold decisions will need to be taken by all Our route map for delivery 23 parties but, with the right supporting measures in place, we are optimistic about the future of bus Cllr Martin Gannon services and stand ready to deliver this plan with our partners. Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee Martijn Gilbert Chair, NEbus – bus operators association Your Vision for Buses | What do you think? Email [email protected] 2 Executive Summary is very different; fares can vary a lot and can be the full range of economic and social services; and the government has indicated that funding What’s Your Vision for Buses? confusing; the buses are more reliable here than buses also give young people and teenagers for bus improvement is available providing our in the rest of England, but could be better… and all greater independence. The North East Transport strategy is a good one. We want your input to tell Buses are at the heart of the North of these factors and more contributed to a gradual Plan makes the commitment that we will leave us what good looks like. We have the partnership East Transport Network, important to decline in bus use in recent decades. no-one behind. And, of course, reducing car use in place to deliver the Vision for Buses. We’re can reduce traffic accidents as well as improving asking here for your input to make it Your Vision people at every stage of their lives and in The work that has gone into this document found the poor air quality that causes so many illnesses for Buses. every place. Working together, our local many ways in which the North East is well placed and deaths. and combined authorities and our bus to grow bus use within a total transport network: operators have developed some big ideas harnessing technology, simplifying ticketing, We have committed to a carbon-neutral North for how to make the bus play an even improving information, and providing better East, overcoming inequality and growing our Do you think good bus services are the greater role. integration with better walking routes to bus and economy, a healthier population, through fair way to give every adult access to better link-ups between buses, taxis, ferries, metro sustainable transport – bus and cycle and walk – Are they the right ideas? That’s for you to education, skills and higher value jobs? and rail. on a network that is safe and secure. say. What’s the most important? That’s for Do you think a car dominated recovery you to say. Buses are essential to delivering our North Overall, a clear Bus Network that is easy to would be a disaster for our environment? East Transport Plan objective: a green, healthy, understand and gives confidence you can get This document describes the background Did you know that modern buses have dynamic and thriving North East. Increasing the anywhere, anytime. high-backed, comfortable seats, free wifi on to buses in the North East and then asks share of all transport that is by bus will support board, providing comfortable journeys that We are working with bus operators to set you to set the priorities for the future. This the Strategic Economic Plan for a growing and with bus priorities can be a lot quicker than minimum standards for each type of route, for is your invitation to join in the Big Bus decarbonised economy, because an increasing the car? reliability and for frequency, every five minutes on Conversation. proportion of the North East bus network is run by the busiest routes, every ten on urban core routes Tell us Your Vision for Buses low emission vehicles, and since a bus takes the outside the very busiest; express service fast links and email your thoughts to space of just 3 cars but carries many more people from towns and villages into cities or connecting Over 160 million journeys a year were made by we can free up road space for essential trips by [email protected] with rail or Metro; good bus links between towns; bus in the North East before the Covid pandemic. getting more people on buses. There have been big changes in the way people and more rural routes, with on-demand services live and travel over the past year or so. Buses The bus is uniquely well placed to give access where the area is so rural that regular bus routes provided essential services during the pandemic, to work and training opportunities for everyone, wouldn’t be used. because it is so flexible and services can be With a new bus strategy we can: and bus ridership is making a rapid recovery as The great news is that we now have the created quickly and easily, once the funding is in things open up again. opportunity to fix all of them. Our Transport Plan • Simplify fares place. And the more people that use the buses, • Make buses more regular, with We want the bus network to play an even greater committed to having a Bus Strategy by April 2022 the less funding they need. even- spaced intervals role in bringing healthy and fair economic growth across the region. The government is willing to Did you know that in the North East we have the • Increase the rural network back that, with funding through Bus Back Better, lowest life expectancy of all the English regions? • Put on more early and late services their strategy to make the bus a key part of the There are many ways in which the bus can help • Improve reliability Covid recovery and 'Levelling-Up'. shift that: walking to and from the bus stop can • Recruit more drivers, creating jobs be the difference in activity that makes someone • Improve access for people who have We know that there is a lot to do. People living healthier; reaching communities that are isolated difficulty getting around and working in our cities, towns, villages and can help improve mental health and stress; our countryside all need bus access, as do the visitors buses are easily accessible and friendly for A double decker bus can take • Open up job sites to more people who come to this historic region. The consultation people who have extra physical or learning needs; 75 cars off the road • And much, much more... for the North East Transport Plan told us that buses help older people to get to health and Tell us Your Vision for Buses people don’t have equal access: the service offer social services and to travel independently for (Greener Journeys) Your Vision for Buses | What do you think? Email [email protected] 3 Introduction Students are travelling across Tyne and Wear to Better buses will create a virtuous cycle, offering Ten Solutions Challenge: Let’s think about the stories behind those college, linking them to apprenticeships and skills more people greater connectivity.