Print Page - Update on the buses - moving forward - view from operators / web meeting log

Health warning - below posting as per my notes - errors and omission excepted

SESSION 2 “PLANNING FOR RESTART AND TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LASTING CHANGE”
Meeting notes from meeting flagged at http://www.passenger.chat/23394

Just over 40 present - 16:00, 15th May 2020, TWSW, Zoom

Chris Irwin - chair's intro

Bad news ...
Grant Shapps telling us it's our public duty to avoid public transport.
It's creating a bad (unpatriotic) odour around buses and trains
Most are switching to drive, walk, cycle.
4 out of 5 "would not use public transport"
[South West] 44% expect to work from home more; slightly higher figure than rest of UK

However ...
Shapps also talks on "once in a generation opportunity for change"
Also Climate change agenda
Also emissions v health
Also cost of urban congestion
Govt is spending on bus only streets
Joint planning encouraged for new approach

Session was attended by bus company senior bosses ... who then spoke

Giles Fearnley (First Bus)
Today we're doing 30% - 40% of vehicle mileage, 9% of normal passengers (England), 16% (Scotland)
A little lower passengers in SW. Not sure why Scotland is so much higher.
No increases seen in numbers since last Sunday

Special bus grant "CBSSG"? - 12 weeks from 17.3, Typically Sunday services + early and tweaked
55% furloughed (managers?? People?)
Just 9% paying in cash now

Engineers back on Wednesday, special funding for remobilisation and works. 12% off much longer
20% of drivers self isolating and we will be running with 70% of our resources
Concentration is on most passengers

Better Bus, transforming cities, etc - everyone wants to carry on at earliest possible date.

IMPORTANT need to caveat that public transport is NOT unsafe - it's jut limited in capacity
GF has pointed this out to the minister that the minister's message needs to reflect that it's safe but has capacity limits and not make bus feel dangerous. Minister agreed to take change of emphasis need on board, but has not modified his message in public utterances since.

Strong marketing campaign needed once we have capacity and come out of this
Local authority seeing opportunity
GF ... proud of his staff, all of whom are proud to be working to provide the service

Hard decisions on the network will be necessary when [emergency] funding end.

Robert Williams (Reading Buses)
Very much same experience as GF
Hang the future on the environmental challenge
Not going for the new normal with cars - would be an opportunity lost

Andrew Wickham (Go South Coast)
Similar story to First and Reading buses
Concern at what the "new normal" will be

Noting strong lobby groups:
1. Cycles (good BUT facilities need to cater for walking and buses too)
2. Auto trade, promoting private cars on safety
Government message understandable but unhelpful ... should be capacity not safety issue

Barclay Davies Bus Users UK / Officer for Wales
Capacity will be the biggest issue and need for funding at lower load rates

There is very little information displayed on bus stops, even if apps are good

Good to see few cash payments but vital they are kept available for customers with no alternative

Confidence will be hard to get back
Cleaning re-assures

Questions / Statements

Q: Are we going to see the same old operators with the same old routes? There are many near-empty buses running around when they could perhaps do better [[Sue Stevens]]

A: Network must be agreed by Govt at present. Agree frustrating to see near empty buses but that is what we are paid to run and there may well be a few key workers on. Now may differ to the future

S: Need to make sure adequate boarding for all - councils need to deal with separation at bus stop environments, such as moving stops apart at busy places. No support for England to Wales services (fallen between two governments?) [[David Redgewell]]

S: Move to Hub and Spoke rather than Park and Ride - leave car at home, take the bus all the way. Pubs for cyclists. Need for seamless transfer [[Cate Mac]]

Discussion - AW and CI - wheelchair and pram spacing; layouts foreach person apart but need for support person to be with passenger, also wheelchair space is in vulnerable place at bus entrance. Each bus layout needs separate consideration.

Bus capacity limits - guidance and up to driver. Would let more on to infrequent service, final service, or if person is vulnerable.

Q: How do we get more space for public transport? [[Tina Biggs]]

A: (called by CI) Yes for WECA to lead / golden opportunity. Need for all sustainable transport on roads - not just cycles and pedestrians but buses too. Lobby your council. [[James White, WECA]]

A: Bus operators need to indicate where real key problems are to help councillors. Law requires decisions to be made by politicians which may be based on popularism ("I want my car") rather than practicality. Harder to make case at present because low traffic levels have removed jams at the moment. [[Ian Harrison]]

A: Don't forget 40k early deaths per annum in UK due to air quality - also a crisis. Help bring things back with clear air. Moral Imperative [[Graham Parkhurst, UWE]]

Summary - CI - and look ahead; not covered today - Rural, Health, Rail, Technical, Electrification.

Early alert - 2 weeks time - City Space special, probably with Marvin Rees.

Health warning - above posting as per my notes - errors and omission excepted

Great Western Coffee Shop

All across the Great Western territory => Buses and other ways to travel => Topic started by: grahame on May 16, 2020, 06:19:41