Buses are the country’s most used mode of public transport, and everyone deserves to have access to cheap, reliable and quick bus journeys. That is why the Government has made better and more affordable bus journeys a central focus.
I can see from the language used that the information stems from the Campaign for Better Transport, which have made a number of inaccurate claims that believe are important to clarify. The Prime Minister has never said, and does not believe, that “cars should take precedence over buses in our town and city centres”.
Similarly, the plan for drivers does not propose to weaken bus lane provision. It makes only two proposals with regards to bus lanes, firstly that they should normally be available to motorcyclists, unless there is a good reason not to, and secondly that bus lanes should normally only operate when buses are running or when traffic flows are heavy enough to delay buses. You can read the plan yourself on the department’s website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plan-for-drivers/the-plan-fo…
It is disappointing that a reputable charity like the Campaign for Better Transport should mischaracterise the Government's position and plan, and, as I understand it, refused to set the facts right when challenged.
This government has provided historic levels of support to bus users, putting over £4.5 billion to support bus services since March 2020. Since the introduction of the £2 fare cap, bus fares between June 2022 and June 2023 have reduced by 7.4 per cent in England, outside London, where as they have risen in Scotland and Wales by 10.3 per cent and 6.3 per cent respectively. After taking the difficult decision to end HS2 phase 2, we are transferring an additional £1 billion to the Midlands and the North to deliver better bus services and an additional £8.55 billion through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements which city regions can use to implement new bus lanes and other forms of bus priority.
I am proud of what the Government is doing to support bus users and welcome the opportunity to set this out.