SUBMISSION RE BUS BILL
Written evidence submitted by Elizabeth Mandeville, Chairperson of the East Midlands Later Life Forum.
1. Executive Summary:
This submission from the East Midlands Later Life Forum is summarised as follows:
• The Bus Bill is required because we believe current legislation lacks powers to develop an effective passenger-led public transport system;
• We believe the Bus Bill does address the correct issues but we would stress the need to ensure that Community Transport is considered as a key element in a comprehensive public transport system;
• We welcome the Advanced Quality Partnerships and Enhanced Partnerships and stress the need to fully consider the needs and aspirations of older people;
• We believe that Franchising should not be restricted to mayoral authorities but open to all relevant local authority areas across England.
• We welcome the proposed enhancement of real time data;
• We are opposed to the prohibition on new municipal bus companies delivering bus services, particularly in non-franchised areas. There is a need to provide a comprehensive service which will benefit all consumers including older people;
• We welcome integrated ticketing systems and real time technologies and trust that particular consideration will be given to older people and people who have a disability;
• We respectfully suggest that powers are given to set standards on bus design with particular attention given to the needs of older people and people who have a disability;
• We believe that there should be a power available to all providers to consider the design of public transport waiting facilities which meet the needs of consumers.
2. Introduction: I make this submission in my capacity as Chairperson on behalf of the East Midlands Later Life Forum, and it is written from the perspective of older people in consideration of their needs and aspirations.
3. The East Midlands Later Life Forum (EMLLF) is a strategic partnership managed and led by older people which brings together organisations that represent the Public, Private, Voluntary and Community Sectors, with older people from Forums and 50+ networks across the East Midlands.
The aims of EMLLF are to:
• Enhance the quality of life of older people within local communities;
• Improve the engagement and involvement of older people;
• Increase economic wellbeing and opportunities for current and future older people living in the East Midlands.
4. There is a need for the Bus Bill because: the current legislation lacks powers to develop an effective passenger led public transport system. We recognise that one of the purposes of this Bill is to enhance all aspects of public transport for the benefit of the consumer.
5. The Bill, we believe, will address the correct issues in relation to an effective, person led, public transport system, providing through ticketing; a better operator response and connectivity between all aspects of public transport, including Community Transport which is crucial in all areas but in particular in rural communities.
6. Advanced Quality Partnerships and Enhanced Partnerships. We believe the Partnerships will introduce aspects of improved public transport and give particular consideration to the needs of all consumers including older people and those who have a disability.
7. It is our view that Franchising, as detailed in Section 21 of the Bill should be amended. We believe that franchising should not be restricted to mayoral authorities, and that other parts of the country should be allowed to join together to form a transport authority which takes responsibility for the provision of an integrated transport system whereby trains, community transport, bus services, and trams deliver an overall service with the added value of reducing urban and rural isolation.
The reason for our view is that it would enable areas to improve their service efficiency for the public; reduce running costs, and improve profitability. It would also enable providers to work in partnership and to look at better working across boundaries.
We believe that if Franchising is restricted to mayoral authorities, older people in other parts of the Country would be adversely affected and will not benefit from the changes to Franchising policy.
8. Enhancing real time data will contribute to better efficiency and public confidence in an integrated public transport system.
9. We are opposed to the proposed prohibition on new municipal bus companies delivering bus services, particularly in non-franchised areas as we believe that this would lead to a reduced service to older people, who may want to reach employment or to access goods and services.
10. We believe that integrated ticketing schemes and real time technologies will enhance the public travel experience across the whole integrated sector and develop a culture of trust and confidence. The specific needs of older people who may be vulnerable or have a disability, should be considered in the design of smart ticketing systems.
11. General comments:
(i) We respectfully suggest greater consideration is given to rail and bus interconnected franchising, enhancing a better public journey experience. There should be a power to promote the above integration.
(ii) We request that powers are given to set standards on bus design which meets the needs effectively of people with disability including visual and hearing impairment.
(iii) With regard to public transport waiting facilities, we suggest that a power should be available to all providers, i.e. franchises, quality partnerships, and local partnerships, to provide a basic requirement for effective design, e.g. lights, seats and weather proofing.
Elizabeth Mandeville
Chair of the East Midlands later Life Forum
26th August 2016
Janice Cooper, 26th August 2016