Options for strengthening bus passenger representation: Consultation paper

Closing date: 17 March 2008

The Department’s consultation paper – Strengthening Local Delivery – Modernising the Traffic Commissioner System which closed on 15 October 2007 sought views on, amongst other things, how bus passenger representation could be improved. The consultation paper asked for views on whether a new Board of traffic commissioners could provide a more high profile, recognised point to which passengers could address their concerns about punctuality and reliability of their local bus services. Whilst the Board proposal itself is not being taken forward there was a strong consensus from the consultation responses that passenger representation needed to be strengthened.

A number of respondents, including the House of Commons Transport Committee and the Campaign for Better Transport suggested that the creation of a statutory body to represent the interests of bus passengers at a national level would be the best approach. However there was no clear consensus amongst consultees and a range of different views on how we might best deliver this passenger representation. We decided therefore that we should invite further views before taking final decisions.

The consultation paper outlines four options for delivering a bus passenger champion, and we welcome your views on them.