The Quality Bus Partnership now has the results of the comprehensive review of bus services carried out last year.
In response to customer concerns about service reliability, frequency and route coverage, independent experts Peter Brett Associates were commissioned to carry out a review of local bus services. They also interviewed community and campaign groups and surveyed bus and non-bus users in the town centre.
The final report amounts to more than 200 pages of analysis of every aspect of bus services and makes recommendations for the partners to take action to improve bus services in the town.
More and more passengers are using the buses each year. Hastings has annual growth of around 3.75%, the highest rate of growth anywhere in East Sussex.
Almost 60% of passengers are either satisfied or very satisfied with bus services in the town, which is higher than the county average of 55% (2004). Only 27% of passengers actively expressed dissatisfaction, which is well below the national average, though clearly indicates there is work still to be done.
Compared with similar towns elsewhere in the country, Hastings has an average number of bus departures per hour from the town centre and an average number of routes with evening and Sunday services.
The price of daily and weekly tickets in Hastings is better than average when compared to those available in other similar locations such as Lincoln; Harlow; Eastbourne; and Crawley. Since its publication in October, the QBP partners are working to deliver the report's recommendations. A new Bus Users Stakeholder Group has already been set up to provide feedback on users' concerns and establish a channel for improved communication.
Representatives from the Conquest Hospital and Ashdown House, the Youth Council and Senior's Forum, the SOS Bus Campaign and the Disability Forum now meet every two months to exchange information and discuss bus issues with the QBP partners.
The recommendations of the study will also be incorporated into the next QBP Action Plan that sets targets for key issues such as punctuality, reliability and bus priority facilities.
Requests for an executive summary of the bus review report should be made to qbp@hastings.gov.uk or the Transport Planner
100 Menzies Road
St Leonards on Sea
TN38 9BB
From April 1 2006 you can travel free throughout Sussex after 9am Monday to Friday and at any time weekends and public holidays. You can also travel on buses into Kent.
We'll be writing to existing Concessionary Bus Pass holders before April with details of how to renew your pass.
If you would like to apply for a Concessionary Bus Pass please visit Hastings Information Centre or telephone 0845 274 1001.
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This page last updated: 22/03/2006