Past seminars

Bus Regulation

22 February 2005

Venue: Committee Room 6, House of Commons

At the 2004 Labour Party Conference, SERA launched its ‘top ten’ manifesto ideas. Two of these proposals relate to encouraging more reliable and efficient bus services and reducing child pedestrian accidents.

There appears to be growing evidence of support for better buses and traffic safety within the Labour Party. The Big Conversation consultation acknowledged that Britain has a low rate of road deaths and serious injuries overall but a relatively poor record on child pedestrian safety compared with other European countries.

It also recognised the importance of buses in providing access to jobs and services especially for those on low incomes or the socially excluded. The recent white paper ‘The Future of Transport. A Network for 2030’ recognised the role that Bus Quality Contracts could play in improving the accessibility and reliability of bus services. The Government also reiterated it’s commitment to reduce road accidents by 40 per cent and the number of children killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads by 50 per cent by 2010.

SERA is interested in encouraging the Labour Party to adopt manifesto commitments to:

Encourage bus quality contracts throughout England for delivering better bus services and reinvigorating bus patronage.
Reduce child pedestrian accidents through a national programme of traffic calming measures targeted at disadvantaged areas.

SERA are also publishing a 4 page policy briefing aimed at Labour MPs, government advisors, CLPs, UNISON and SERA members. The purpose of the policy briefing would be to:

Raise awareness of the benefits of Bus Quality Contracts and traffic safety measures amongst Labour supporters.
To discuss the policy options for taking forward Bus Quality Contracts and traffic safety measures in Labour’s third term.