UMP is delighted to launch its new report, Community Bus Partnerships: A proposition to deliver improved local bus services, in collaboration with UMP senior member Stagecoach, to set out our vision for the next phase in the evolution of local bus services.
With franchising gaining momentum across the UK – from Greater Manchester’s Bee Network and the Buses Services Bill in Westminster, to forthcoming legislation in Wales and Scotland – there is growing consensus that local areas must have more control over how their bus networks are planned and delivered.
At the same time, many local authorities are looking for flexible, collaborative alternatives that don’t carry the financial risks or complexity of full franchising. That’s where ‘Community Bus Partnerships’ come in.
This report sets out a new approach: an evolution of the existing Enhanced Partnership model that puts communities at the heart of bus service design and strengthens the relationship between local transport authorities and operators. Built on shared accountability and practical delivery, we believe this model can offer a route to more responsive, inclusive and reliable services – and crucially, a way to drive real modal shift away from private car dependency.
As pressure mounts on local budgets and expectations rise for better public transport, Community Bus Partnerships offer a practical, locally-driven way forward.
Read the full report for more details.
