Buses - the big issue

Written by Lynne Featherstone and published in Newslines / Metlife on Thu 6th Nov 2003

Buses are probably the biggest issue for anyone who holds a transport brief in London politics. They are also a great success story. We now have the fastest rate of growth in passengers since 1945 - a 16 per cent increase in Night bus passengers alone.

At City Hall the transport committee exists for two reasons. First, and most positively, we are there to speak for London and to put forward proposals to improve transport in London. We can't force anyone to do anything, but as members elected by Londoners we can give a lead and present well researched policies that directors and managers can take on board.

Secondly we are there to hold the Mayor of London and Transport for London to account. We can investigate, scrutinise, and shine a light in dark corners. If the bus contracts need upgrading to give Londoners a better deal, we'll say so. If TfL London Buses insist on running a mad route where drivers have to pick their way along between double lines of parked cars, we'll fight that.

The whole Assembly has a major say in the Mayor of London's annual budget. The budget is vital to Transport for London, and of course to London Buses. It matters to bus staff pay - and I'm keen that we close the gap between bus drivers' pay and rates for Tube drivers.

At times we've had to champion bus drivers on routes where they've been attacked and injured - as a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority I've been able to campaign for stronger police support in problem districts.

As a Londonwide Assembly member, my mail comes in from all points within the M25. Inevitably a lot of it contains complaints from the travelling public. You quickly get used to the ones written in capital letters and/or in green ink ! Yet some people really have had very bad experiences on - and off - the bus. I've tried to get a clearer view of the reality through my bus surveys, especially working with organisations for elderly and disabled people.

I'm convinced that customer care standards are improving - not least because of the excellent training programmes that Metroline and other operators are now putting in place. It was a real pleasure to open the STAR centre back in July. Being challenged to drive a brand new £150,000 double decker bus was quite scary too - however I got through without leaving a scratch…..

We have enthusiastically supported the Congestion Charging scheme from the start, and it has been a huge success in improving bus journey times in the central zone.

The next move must surely be to use global positioning satellite technology to bring in road pricing for all of Greater London. No way can the outdated technology used by the Mayor for the current scheme be rolled out beyond Kensington and Chelsea. If we're going to free up the horrendous congestion in some of the town centres in outer London, we have to move to GPS.

GPS can also be the way forward for bus fleet management and for really accurate and high quality passenger information at bus stops. They already manage to do both in Brighton and there is no reason not to do it in London.

I'm keen to hear from Metroline staff what their concerns are about public transport in London - and how and where we should be putting on the pressure to improve it. Do please let me have your views - about passengers if you like !