Written evidence from D Cooper-Smith (BUS
01)
There has been discontent in Milton Keynes with bus
service for many years, under various operators. I don't think
this is their faultrather, due to MK's unusual geography
and a regulatory/subsidy system that produces perverse incentives.
The role of government has been to give fixed-contract
subsidy for particular services. This:
(i) stifles
enterprise/innovation by the operator;
(ii) makes
the operator rely on fixed subsidy income, minimizing incentive
to attract custom; and
(iii) is
unresponsive to changing needs and involves government officers
in decision-making, often remote from customers and taxpayers.
Some possible solutions:
(a) A
"2 tier" service with a few primary/trunk routes using
full size buses largely on grid roads, supplemented by secondary
routes using smaller vehicles (to maintain decent frequencies)
through the estatesthese may need higher fares than primary
routes due to higher costs.
(b) Some
smaller vehicles could provide extra bus service during peaks
and be utilized for cab-hire in off-peaks.
(c) Subsidies
to be performance-related (eg related to amount of custom attracted)
rather than fixed amount/fixed contract.
(d) Replace
stage fares with a simple (3?) zonal system.
November 2010
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