Bus Users UK, the passenger champion, has welcomed the new report from the Transport Committee, Buses Connecting Communities which calls for ‘more ambitious action’ to reverse the long-term decline in bus services.

The report echoes what Bus Users UK has long-called for, including a commitment to providing socially necessary services, greater access to services particularly for young people and rural communities and, above all, secure, long-term funding.

Commenting on the report, Bus Users UK Director for England, Lydia Horbury (pictured), said: “

This report is both a wake-up call and an opportunity. Buses are not just vehicles; they are lifelines connecting people to jobs, training, healthcare and each other. For too long, services have been reduced or cut back entirely, leaving communities stranded and young people locked out of opportunities.

“We fully support the call for a free bus pass for under-22s – it’s an investment in our future workforce, our economy and our environment. But it can only succeed if every community, urban or rural, has a reliable, affordable and accessible bus network. The Government must seize this moment to deliver a bold, long-term plan that puts passengers first.”

(Pic: Bus Users UK)