Bus Users UK 2026 Manifestos call on government to put buses at heart of national policies • Bus Users

Bus Users UK has today published its 2026 Manifestos for England, Scotland and Wales, setting out clear agendas for governments to protect, prioritise and strengthen bus services.

The charity, which campaigns for inclusive and accessible transport, is urging ministers to recognise the central role buses play in supporting economic growth, decarbonisation and social inclusion.

The Manifestos highlight buses as one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to improve connectivity and support local economies, warning that without sustained investment and clear direction, people risk losing vital access to jobs, education and healthcare.

Manifesto priorities for government

Core priorities across all three nations include the need to:

Protect essential services through a statutory duty to ensure all communities have access to public transport, with a defined and funded minimum level of provision
Deliver long-term funding via multi-year settlements that support service levels and reliability, not just vehicles and infrastructure
Prioritise sustainable travel by requiring local authorities to introduce bus lanes, traffic signal priority and effective enforcement to tackle congestion
Make bus travel fully accessible through consistent national standards, mandatory disability awareness training and enforcement of priority spaces
Simplify fares and ticketing with tap-in, tap-out systems, fare caps and better integration between bus and rail
Strengthen passenger rights and accountability by introducing clear national standards, transparent reporting and stronger oversight to ensure passengers are protected.

Additional priorities for England include:

Extend concessionary travel by removing peak-time restrictions enabling disabled passengers to travel when they need to
Put buses at the heart of national policy by embedding them in transport investment decisions and wider planning for housing, health and employment.

For Scotland:

Safeguard concessionary travel as a vital support for young people, older adults and disabled passengers, and a key pillar of network viability
Make services fit-for-purpose by restoring investment in bus priority and infrastructure to deliver faster, more reliable journeys and a network that meets future demand
Connect and integrate transport embedding it across all policy areas through a joined-up approach that delivers a responsive public transport system.

And for Wales:

Deliver passenger-first franchising creating a coherent, integrated network with clear standards for reliability, accessibility and the passenger experience.

Launching the 2026 Manifestos, the CEO and Country Directors of Bus Users UK have urged their respective governments to recognise buses as a national policy priority with passengers and communities front and centre.

Lydia Horbury, Chief Executive of Bus Users UK: “Our 2026 Manifesto calls on Government to treat buses as essential national infrastructure, central to tackling inequality, driving economic growth and delivering on our climate ambitions. When bus services are accessible, reliable and properly integrated, they unlock opportunity, strengthen communities and connect people to the things that matter most. This is about putting passengers at the heart of policy and recognising the full value buses and sustainable travel bring to society.”

Greig Mackay, Bus Users UK Director for Scotland: “In Scotland, buses are a lifeline for many communities, particularly in rural and island areas where alternatives are limited. Protecting and strengthening these services requires long term commitment and investment that reflects the realities on the ground. By prioritising local connectivity and reliability, we can ensure buses continue to support everyday journeys, sustain communities and play a meaningful role in Scotland’s wider transport and climate ambitions.”

Barclay Davies, Bus Users UK Director for Wales: “Buses are an essential public service, particularly in rural and coastal areas where they provide vital links to work, education, healthcare and social connection. We urge Welsh Government to ensure that franchising delivers a network that is transparent, accountable and shaped by the people who rely on it. This is an opportunity to create a bus system that works for every community, while supporting economic growth and a more sustainable future for all.”

2026 Manifesto for England