Department for Transport
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Bus passengers asked for views on new champion
Proposals to create a bus passenger champion were published today by Transport Minister, Rosie Winterton.
The new champion would provide a more influential voice for bus
passengers, who currently have no formal national
representative.
To ensure the champion meets the needs of bus
passengers the Department for Transport today launched a public
consultation on the plans.
Rosie Winterton said:
"Two thirds of all public
transport journeys are made by bus but currently bus passengers
have no single formal representative to stand up for their
interests. It is time that changed.
"The new bus champion will have a high profile role, representing bus passengers across England to make sure they are getting the service they deserve. It would ensure passengers' voices are heard when key decisions are being made and also put forward ideas about services for the future.
"We are already planning to give local authorities more powers to improve bus services in their areas through the Local Transport Bill. I hope that this, combined with the creation of the passenger champion, will help encourage more people on to the buses which in turn will reduce congestion and help tackle climate change."
Notes to Editors
1. The consultation paper, "Options for
strengthening bus passenger representation" has been
published by the Department for Transport today.
It can be
found on the DfT's website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/buspassenger/
2. The consultation runs until 17 March 2008.
3. The consultation examines whether a stand-alone bus body is the best approach or whether the role might be given to an existing body such as Passenger Focus. Any new body would need to reinforce, not undermine, existing non-statutory bodies which represent bus passengers' interests.
4. Bus patronage figures by region can be found on the DfT website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/public/annualbulletins/publictransportstatsbul07
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
