Accessible Information Consultation: Our Response

The Bus Services Act 2017 includes provision for the introduction of regulations requiring  bus companies to equip their vehicles with systems to provide information to passengers on the route and destination of the vehicle as well as informing them of the name of each approaching bus stop in both an audible and visible format. Improving the accessibility of information will build on the obvious advantages of improving the physical accessibility of buses that has been achieved in recent years. It will make bus travel easier and therefore more attractive not just for people with sight or hearing difficulties but for passengers using an unfamiliar service or travelling to a new destination. 

Some bus operators provide this information after a fashion as passengers on the 555 might have noticed. Whilst Stagecoach's efforts are restricted to audio announcements at certain stops more comprehensive systems can be found locally in parts of Blackburn and Burnley and, of course, London.  They are also common in mainland Europe, as with these examples from Switzerland, where a second screen appears to be being used for advertising, presumably to help finance the system.

This display shows the next stop (top) the following two stops, with an indication of the time
taken to reach them (centre) and the  destination of the bus and arrival time. (bottom)
(Note the classic "Swiss Railway" clock at the bottom right!)

This screen shows the available connections from the next stop: note that the
second and third connections are reported running one minute late!

Whilst the proposals will bring undoubted benefits to all passengers, the government recognises that they will impose costs upon operators. It has therefore launched a consultation aimed at finding out whether what is proposed will be what passengers require and how and when it should be introduced so as to minimise costs, particularly to small bus companies.

The Bus Users' Group has responded to the consultation saying, basically, that we agree with the requirements to provide audible and visible information, but that care needs to be taken to minimise the impact on bus operators, especially smaller firms and community bus operations.

The proposals can be read via this link.

The consultation response was made using an online response form, which can be read via this link. It takes the form of answers to a number of set questions that are based on the information provided in the consultation document itself.

The consultation remains open until 16 September should you wish to submit an individual response.

Improvements to Craven Connection service 582

Some minor improvements are being be made to the Craven Connection bus service between Skipton, Settle, Ingleton, Kirkby Lonsdale and Lancaster, operated by Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire from 3rd September 2018:

A "Craven Connection" bus at Ingleton

• ​an additional journey will run from Lancaster to Kirkby Lonsdale at 1700
• on schooldays the 0820 arrival in Lancaster and the 1545 departure from Lancaster will extend to/from Ripley St Thomas School
• on schooldays the 0745 journey from Lancaster will operate via Kirkby Lonsdale QE School

There are also changes to the late afternoon service towards Skipton.  Currently, the 1545 hrs Lancaster to Kirkby Lonsdale journey arrives at 1640 and on Mondays to Fridays waits until 1715 before continuing to Settle and Skipton. On Saturdays it leaves Kirkby Lonsdale thirty minutes earlier at 1645.  From 3rd September this bus will depart Kirkby Lonsdale at 1700 six days a week arriving at Settle 1740 and Skipton at 1825.

​The new timetable is available here. 

Bus Lane Proposed for Greyhound Bridge

The Lancaster Guardian website is reporting that Lancashire County Council is proposing to boost bus journeys through Lancaster by introducing a bus-only lane over Greyhound Bridge when it reopens.

The re-configured bridge would have one of its three traffic lanes reserved for buses heading towards Morecambe. The other two would cater for general traffic towards Morecambe and Skerton respectively.  The new priority lane would begin on Cable Street and would give Morecambe-bound buses a clear run from the bus stop at Sainsbury's over the river via Greyhound Bridge as far as Carlisle Bridge, where there is space only for one traffic lane under the railway. Here the buses would merge with the general traffic but would have priority in doing so. The current bus lane on Parliament Street with access for taxis between 10pm and 6am is proposed to be changed to allow 24-hour access for buses, cycles and taxis only.

Lancashire County Council says that establishing a bus lane over  Greyhound Bridge has been identified as a measure which could be put in place quickly and at minimal cost to immediately reduce journey times and improve reliability for the more than 20 buses an hour which would use the lane.  It also says that traffic modelling has identified that only minimal delays would be caused to other road users. The bus lane would operate 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Whilst any improvement in facilities for buses and bus passengers is obviously welcome, the Bus Users' Group can't help but wonder whether this is a case of the county council providing bus priority where it is easy to do so and where it won't upset car drivers. The opening of the Bay Gateway has significantly reduced traffic on Morecambe Road anyway, and this  has reduced the delays to westbound buses.  Nor will the county council have to close the road to create the bus lane as it will be done as part of the bridge repair scheme.

A council spokesman said that  "Improving public transport in Lancaster is a key component of long-term plans to transform how traffic is managed in the city centre and ensure that people and goods can continue to travel efficiently as the area grows in future."  The Bus Users' Group is looking forward to seeing how those "long-term plans" develop and would like to see further priority measures for buses - even if these would unavoidably impact on journey times for other road users.