Public transport inquiry: what are the barriers to improving bus services?

This evidence session will be streamed on Parliament TV. It is part of the committee’s inquiry on public transport in towns and cities.

At 10.00am, the Committee will hear from:

• James Freeman, Former Managing Director, First West of England and Chair, Bus Rapid Transit UK
• Professor Peter White, Emeritus Professor of Public Transport Systems at University of Westminster.

Questions the Committee is likely to ask include:

• In the long term, will the use of bus services grow, stay the same or shrink? Is this linked to customer needs or the funding model, or both?
• What are the advantages of buses, compared to other modes of transport, particularly with respect to flexibility and accessibility?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, particularly compared to light rail systems? Where do BRT systems work particularly well?
• Will the Government policy initiatives, such as the National Bus Strategy and proposals in the Levelling Up White Paper, improve services?
• Are local authorities well equipped with appropriate funding, responsibilities and powers to support the delivery of high-quality public transport services?
• Would further devolution of urban transport policy help deliver better public transport?

More about this inquiry 

The Committee’s work can be followed on its website and via Twitter.

Read the transcript of the Committee’s previous oral evidence session on 15 March 2022.