Bus Users has warmly welcomed the announcement by Chancellor Sajid Javid of a national bus strategy as part of a multi-million pound investment plan for bus services.
The plan includes renewal of the pledge to spend £220 million on improved bus services, £50 million for the first all-electric bus town or city, a goal for contactless payments to be available on all city buses and a plan for superbus networks where local authorities will invest in bus lanes in exchange for more services from operators.
The plan represents the most significant investment in bus services and infrastructure in decades and has been welcomed by Bus Users’ Chair, Ben Colson: “Despite being the most used form of public transport, buses have consistently been overlooked in both funding and policy terms.
“This announcement is a clear signal from Government of the critical role buses have to play in offering a sustainable and environmentally sound transport solution.”