Moving Aberdeenshire Forward Contents
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2010 Moving Aberdeenshire Forward Contents 1 What Is a Bus Information 7 At Whom Should Information Strategy? 4 Be Targeted? 28 1.1 Introduction 4 7.1 Introduction 28 1.2 Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 4 7.2 Satisfaction with Current 1.3 National Policy Context 6 Information Provision 28 1.4 Regional Policy Context 7 7.3 Existing Users 28 1.5 Local Policy Context 8 7.4 Potential Users 28 1.6 Bus Quality Partnerships 8 7.5 Conclusions 28 2 About Aberdeenshire 10 8 What Information is Currently Provided? 30 2.1 Introduction 10 2.2 Car Ownership 10 8.1 Introduction 30 2.3 Travel to Work by Car 11 8.2 Area-Wide Maps 30 2.4 Travel to Work by Bus 12 8.3 Timetables and Alterations 2.5 Work From Home 13 to them 30 2.6 Age 14 8.4 Other Services - DRT and 2.7 General Public Transport Community Transport 31 Trends and Patronage 14 8.5 Travellers With Disabilities 31 2.8 Conclusions 14 8.6 Bus Stops 31 8.7 Interchanges 31 3 How Is Bus Information Used? 16 8.8 On-bus 32 8.9 Travelline Scotland 32 3.1 Introduction 16 8.10 Transport Direct Portal 33 3.2 Before the Journey 16 8.11 Aberdeenshire Council Website 34 3.3 During the Journey 16 8.12 Aberdeenshire Journey Planner 38 3.4 After the Journey 16 8.13 Enquiry Offices 38 3.5 Input to the Information Strategy 16 8.14 Conclusions 38 4 What Information Should 9 The Bus Information Strategy 40 Be Provided? 18 9.1 Overall Approach 40 4.1 Introduction 18 9.2 Commitments 40 4.2 Before the Journey is Made 18 9.3 Timetable Leaflets 42 4.3 During the Journey 20 9.4 Area and Network Maps 45 4.4 At the End of the Journey 20 9.5 Service Alterations 47 4.5 Input to the Information Strategy 20 9.6 Bus Stops Timetable Displays 48 9.7 Interchange Information 49 5 Where Should Information 9.8 Bus Stop Flags 50 Be Provided? 22 9.9 Real Time Passenger Information at Bus Stops 51 5.1 Overall Approach 22 9.10 On-bus Information 53 9.11 Provision of Information on 6 How Should Information the Internet 54 Be Provided? 24 9.12 Traveline Scotland 55 6.1 Introduction 24 9.13 Monitoring the Strategy 56 6.2 ‘Real Time’ Information 26 Appendices Appendix A – Extracts from the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 57 BUS INFORMATION STRATEGY 1/2 Foreword Through the framework of It is particularly satisfying the Council’s Local Transport that the high standards of Strategy, continued provision that the Council investment in transportation has set regarding timetable within Aberdeenshire has led displays are consistently to significant improvements in attained or exceeded. recent years. Given these achievements, the Strategy has been It has also seen us make real developed to build upon progress in developing an our success and to set the integrated transportation framework for continuous system for Aberdeenshire improvement in this crucial which contributes to the area of service delivery. Councillor Peter Argyle development of an inclusive Chair, Infrastructure Services and safe society, a Our Bus Information Strategy Committee. sustainable economy and was produced with the which reduces the assistance of the MVA environmental damage Consultancy and is the caused by transport. product of extensive informal and formal Aberdeenshire Council’s consultation with interested Single Outcome Agreement parties. Our grateful thanks (SOA) reflects this vision. The go to everyone who contrib- provision of an effective uted to the development of public transport network will the document. maximise the contribution public transport can make, In these challenging within available resources, economic times, the to a number of the national approach we have adopted Iain Gabriel outcomes underpinning the is based on continued Director, Transportation and Council’s SOA. successful partnership Infrastructure working with operators. This Bus services form the core collaborative approach will of the Aberdeenshire public continue to deliver added transport network. The value and a more cost- availability of high quality bus effective service to our service information is a major residents. factor in attracting new passengers and retaining We are confident that the existing passengers. Council’s excellent working arrangements with the bus The Council has, over recent industry will continue and years, dedicated consider- contribute to the success of able effort and associated the Strategy. We will ensure resources to the develop- that we monitor the success ment and maintenance of of all parties in meeting the a range of public transport objectives. initiatives. These include conventional ‘at-bus stop’ timetable displays and pioneering ‘on-street’ interactive journey planning facilities at key interchange points across Aberdeenshire. BUS INFORMATION STRATEGY 3/4 Introduction The availability and quality of information is a major factor in encouraging the use of public transport. 1.1 What is the Bus heavily on public transport • The Disability Information Strategy? need information that is Discrimination Act (DDA) comprehensive, impartial 2005; This Bus Information Strategy between operators and • MACS (Mobility and has been prepared to accurate. It is also recognised Access Committee demonstrate the objec- that those who already use for Scotland)Report: tives and means by which buses can be encouraged to Valuable for Anyone, Aberdeenshire Council will use them more often by the Valuable for Everyone; deliver high-quality and provision of ‘added value’ and meaningful information information. • DfT’s (Department for about the bus network in Transport) ‘Inclusive their area. The structure of However, if public transport Mobility’. the strategy is such that it is strategies are to be both reflective of the current achieved, there is also a It also takes cognisance of position and also sets out requirement to encourage the Scottish Government’s aspirations and a framework its use by those who are ‘Buses for Scotland – Progress for the future delivery of bus currently regular car users. through Partnership’ information in the area. The information needs of guidance document. someone who rarely (or has For the purposes of this never) used public transport 1.2 Transport (Scotland) are different to those of strategy, local bus Act 2001 information means: the existing users. This Bus Information Strategy must • information about fares, Under the Transport routes, location of stops recognise these different needs. (Scotland) Act 2001, and timetabling of local Aberdeenshire Council has bus services to, from and This Bus Information Strategy a duty to ensure the within Aberdeenshire; availability of local bus • other information about complies with the require- ments of the national information in Aberdeenshire. facilities for people with Through consultation with special needs, travel legislation set out in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 local operators and neigh- concessions, etc; and bouring authorities, the • connections with other and other relevant legislation, strategies, policies and guide- Council has established transport services and all a policy which sets out other matters of value to lines, namely: • Aberdeenshire Council’s standards for the provision passengers and potential and maintenance of passengers. Local Transport Strategy and Public Transport up-to-date and compre- hensive public transport The availability and quality of Policy Statement; • Nestrans Regional information. This is part of information is a major factor the Council’s strategy for in encouraging the use of Transport Strategy; • ATCO (Association of encouraging greater use public transport in prefer- and awareness of the public ence to private transport. Transport Coordinating Officers) Good Practice transport alternatives to travel Aberdeenshire Council by private car. recognises that those without Guidance: Public access to a car and who rely Transport Information (February 2009); “...the provision of high quality information targeted at non-bus users is a key component of the strategy.” BUS INFORMATION STRATEGY 5/6 The Act sets out the process Having achieved 1.3 National Policy by which a strategy for infor- consensus on what, how, Context mation provision should be where and to whom the prepared and the steps that information is provided, The National Transport must be undertaken within Aberdeenshire Council will Strategy (NTS), published in this. Sections 33 to 35 of the implement the agreed plan December 2006, sets out the Act, which deal with infor- and monitor its delivery. long-term vision for transport mation about bus services, Where there are deficien- in Scotland. The strategic are provided in Appendix A. cies in current provision, the outcomes identified within Setting standards for the Council will make arrange- the NTS, focus on tackling provision of local bus infor- ments, in partnership with congestion, integrating mation in the local authority bus operators, to rectify this. services and infrastructure, area and providing effective Where there are longer term improving connections and bus service information, will objectives, the Council will accessibility and encour- contribute towards achieving develop schemes and seek aging individuals to make the objectives of both funding that will enable these different choices about their Aberdeenshire Council and objectives to be met. preferred method of travel. the bus companies which provide services in the area. Aberdeenshire Council will The NTS states that: exercise its powers under the • buses are the dominant Therefore, this Bus Information Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 form of public transport in Strategy