Buses and the Buses Bill Andrew Dobbie National Office, Water, Environment and Transport a.dobbie@unison.co.uk

Stops on the route The nightmare of Deregulation... ...followed by the disaster of Austerity North and South, and across nations The Buses Bill: new opportunities? Saving your buses

The nightmare of deregulation... In 1986, buses outside London were deregulated. Any operator could run any route it fancied, with no ability to require routes that were unprofitable to be serviced. Life got very hard for municipal companies.

So how did that work out? Bus use 1986- 2015

Most English bus journeys now in London

But it’s very variable

The disaster of austerity

LA funding sharply down

England Bus use up in the South, down in the North

Even worse in Wales and Scotland

Again- municipality works Over five years to 2015: South East Scotland: 1% rise in ridership Strathclyde and SW: 21% fall Lothian buses is the biggest municipal company in the UK; most Glasgow buses are run by First group.

Buses bill: new hope? Enable mayoral authorities to franchise bus services Enable regional ticketing and pricing schemes Ban councils from setting up municipal bus companies

Lobbying to improve the Bill Remove prohibition of municipals Ensure unions are statutory consultees Provide for continuity of service.

Saving your buses Local campaigning: www.save-our-buses.org.uk Talk to your councillors, in your constituency parties, to your mayoral candidates.

Questions and debate a.dobbie@unison.co.uk