What does 2020 hold for the bus industry? Much of it hinges on Boris Johnson. Can he deliver on promises he made last year?
Currently, the PM has bigger fish to fry. But after the UK leaves the EU this month, politicians will be able to return their attention to other matters. Buses will likely be among them. New money will be found. But ideas for re-regulation will also be at the forefront of discussion.
The bus industry has a major part to play in where that leads. It has already shown that with new leadership at its trade body, it is on the front foot and willing to get its message across.
But it also has a major investment in other policies. They may not concern buses directly. But they are highly relevant to the industry’s long-term direction. They concern urban air quality and the future of the high street.
City of York Council has become the first local authority to announce restrictions on non-essential car movements. They will start in 2023. For elected representatives, that is an unprecedented step to take. But it is the first sign of an acceptance that change is coming.
Many high streets must also change. The decline of some towns has been so marked that it is a wonder buses still serve them at all. They are not dying; they are dead.
Resuscitating them will be challenging. But it must be done if anything approaching a comprehensive bus network is to be retained in some parts of the country. The bus industry should be on board with whatever it takes to achieve that.
