Get on board for Catch the Bus Month 2023

Our newly-published Bus Passenger Charter outlines commitment to high quality services across the region 

We have cemented our commitment to providing high quality and further improved services to its customers across the region - thanks to ourBus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) partnership with BCP Council.

The BSIP has led to a new Bus Passenger Charter - published on 1 September to mark the start of Catch the Bus Month - detailing exactly what people can expect from their local services. 

We have worked closely with BCP Council on this comprehensive outline of everything our customers can enjoy when travelling by bus across the region.

The council has been very clear about its expectations, and we are pleased they align with what we have been working hard to achieve over recent years. However, we are not resting on our laurels, and we have plans to improve our offering still further over the coming weeks and months.

Among the charter’s highlights is the arrival of 28 brand new low emissions double deckers - part of our multi-million pound investment in first class bus travel across Dorset. 

Also specified are plans for investment in new bus shelters across the region, equipped with real time passenger information displays. State-of-the-art CCTV, designed to ensure customer safety, will also be rolled out on buses, at stops and at Poole Bus Station. 

The Charter demonstrates our commitment to welcome everyone on-board - no matter what their purpose for travel.  We pride ourselves in making our buses accessible to all - and we also provide extensive training for our drivers to ensure they understand the needs of those who are vulnerable or who have a disability.

Encouraging more people to use sustainable transport is key to helping reduce congestion here because just one fully loaded double decker bus has the potential to take up to 75 cars off the roads. We want to ensure our buses and services are as attractive as possible to encourage those with cars to switch their travel habits for the good of the environment across the south coast. That’s why our partnership with BCP Council on this Charter is so important.

Cllr Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for climate response, environment and energy at BCP Council, added: 

“The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area has bucked national trends when it comes to supporting high quality, efficient bus travel across the conurbation. 

“Working closely with Morebus and other operators in our area, we continue to make great improvements, not just to services themselves so our residents have regular, reliable and accessible travel, but things like upgrading bus shelters with the latest technology enabling people to track arrival times, as well as enhanced CCTV to make them feel safer, and much more besides.

“With financial support from the Government, we can also make sure bus travel is more affordable.

“The investments being made by Morebus into their vehicle fleet supports our commitment to climate change by helping reduce our carbon footprint and congestion on our roads, making this mode of transport a great option.”

Bus fares are also a key part of the Charter - with concessionary travel, easy payment methods and reduced return fare initiatives on some services among the highlights.

Residents are also already benefiting from the improved frequency on Service 18 from Broadstone and Canford Heath to Bournemouth. The route now operates every half hour in the daytime on Mondays to Saturdays, with a Sunday service also provided using funding from the Government to improve bus services in the conurbation.  

The Service 18 enhancements have generated an additional 22,000 extra passengers in June and July. This represents an impressive 134 percent increase in ridership and shows that more people will choose the bus when services are further improved. 

Service 13 from Bournemouth to Wimborne will also benefit from increased journeys with a new 20-minute frequency to be introduced in the New Year. 

You can view a full copy of the charter here or for more information about the Bus Passenger Charter, please visit: https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/News/News-Features/Transforming-Travel/National-Bus-Strategy-for-England.aspx