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In its application for the ‘Improvements to Bus Services’ award,
Peterborough City Council included details of its innovative work to
improve bus services in Peterborough. This work involved a range of
related initiatives, which have helped to increase passenger numbers
against a national decline, increase user satisfaction with public
transport information and local bus services. In addition, it has
been improving accessibility, reducing social exclusion and raising
public awareness of the benefits of travelling by public transport.
Peterborough’s application outlined
the way in which the city council has undertaken work with
commercial bus operators such as Stagecoach, to ensure that the
commercial network of bus routes was complemented by appropriate
‘Local Link’ cross-town services.
Stagecoach and the city council
continue to work together to ensure the commercial and subsidised
networks are essentially one combined network in the eyes of the
public.
The partnership working between
Stagecoach and the city council is delivering excellent results,
which includes the combined commercial and subsidised network where
a significant increase in bus passenger journeys has been achieved
against a national decline. This, together with the growth in
satisfaction with local bus services and provision of travel
information, indicates that the services are reaching a greater
proportion of the community.
At the National Transport Awards,
Peterborough City Council was also shortlisted for the ’Most
Improved Local Authority’ category along with Glasgow City Council,
Slough Borough Council. The winner of this category was Slough
Borough Council.
eresa Wood, group manager for
accessibility and travel at the city council, said: “We are
delighted to have been highly commended at this year’s National
Transport Awards and feel tremendously proud that the hard work and
determination of everyone involved have been recognised in this way.
“We are keen to continue building on
this success and have identified several areas for future
development. I would like to thank everyone who has supported the
team in improving the city’s public transport network.”
Peterborough, Darlington and
Worcester were selected as Sustainable Transport Demonstration Towns
under a five-year, £10 million government scheme set up in 2004 to
pioneer sustainable transport initiatives that can be adopted by
other local authorities throughout the country.
The city council established its
Travelchoice team to promote cycling, walking, car-sharing and
public transport as alternatives to single-occupant car journeys.
For more information about Travelchoice, visit
www.travelchoice.org.uk
or call (01733) 747474.
The Travelchoice Centre is located
in the Queensgate bus station which is situated in the heart of the
city with easy access to the shopping centre. It offers a wide
variety of services on a face to face basis and provides people with
travel information for bus and train services, as well as walking
and cycling options in Peterborough.
Information and items available at
the centre include bus and train timetables, concessionary bus pass
application forms, local maps and good going pledge cards.
It also acts as a ticket agent and
sells tickets such as National Express coach tickets, Shaws and
Peterborough Travel Consultants day trip tickets, International bus
tickets and Stagecoach period tickets. Cycle maps, bus timetable
booklets and discounted rail cards can also be purchased at the
centre.
July 2008 -
Peterborough UK Community Website
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