Review pinpoints reasons for falling bus passenger numbers
Insufficient funding, lack of leadership and a lack of accountability are the root causes for a decline in bus passenger numbers in South Yorkshire, the Independent Bus Commission has found.
The commission, chaired by MP Clive Betts, has shared its findings and recommendations with Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, who commissioned the review last year.
The review, concluded before the Coronavirus pandemic, took into consideration the experiences and feedback from 5,900 members of the public, bus users, community groups, businesses and interest groups.
The findings:
- Funding: Evidence from Campaign for Better Transport estimated funding for bus services in England has fallen by more than £162m (43%) since 2009/10. These figures are similar in South Yorkshire, where South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive’s (SYPTE) budget has declined by 40% over the last decade
- Leadership: a lack of leadership by bus operators, SYPTE, local authorities and the Sheffield City Region Executive team. The review found there were too many layers of leadership without the leverage and power to be able to deliver real change, and the opportunity for single leadership in the Mayor had been impeded by the lack of a devolution deal with Government.
- Accountability: The review found that having an arms-length organisation, such as SYPTE, has not allowed local authorities the opportunity to make decisions about bus services – but has allowed them to shy away from responsibility.
The review recommended a simpler ticketing system and the exploration of innovative fare structures be investigated. It also highlighted concerns about SYPTE’s leadership of the bus partnership and its approach to holding operators to account.
Over the last decade, the report says these factors have resulted in poor frequency, poor reliability and poor quality and accessibility of services across South Yorkshire.
And it found there was poor connectivity between bus services and other modes of transport.
Commissioners heard from passengers and representative groups about how bus service changes had impacted their lives, in some cases with life-changing consequences.
User groups highlighted the distress and confusion that service changes cause passengers, particularly disabled passengers.
Betts said: “Buses should be the backbone of a public transport system, yet in South Yorkshire, due to a number of factors, buses have been allowed to decline and passengers have been the ones to suffer. This cannot continue.
“I wanted to carry out a bus review that put passengers at its heart and I believe my commissioners and I have done that.
“We have made a number of recommendations to the Mayor, that we feel not only will help bus services improve for passengers, but also sustain it for the future.
“We’re aware that we are now talking about a bus service in a completely different context to that a few months ago.
“What the Coronavirus pandemic has allowed us to do is observe and understand the initial social and economic impact this has had on bus services, especially since lockdown and social distancing measures have been put in place.”
Dan Jarvis
Jarvis said: “Our bus system is vitally important for our economy and environment, and for too long it has been neglected. Passengers have suffered.
“Following the findings of the review and its recommendations, we owe it to them to provide a first-class bus service and one they can rely on.
“In difficult circumstances, with yearly cuts to budgets, we have lost sight of what a good bus service looks like and it’s time that we regain this perspective.
“There are a number of actions that I am going to put in place to start the process of improving our bus services.
“Firstly, there is a clear need for change with SYPTE and I will be addressing this with a view of integrating them fully within the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority.
“I’m also keen to look at how we improve services for disabled users and young people under 25, and I have directed my officers to explore what is possible.
“I want to be clear that rapid change will not come overnight, and I will be working with local leaders and partners to urge Government to put in place the necessary funding needed to help us make improvements.”
