The research document, which was published today at the watchdog’s board meeting at City Hall, shows that the concerns of Londoners differ from those of national bus users with passengers in the capital much less likely to be concerned about integrated tickets or getting a seat on the bus.
Instead London bus users want improvements to the ‘countdown’ electronic waiting time system and more than three quarters of respondents expressed concerns about punctuality and reliability.
Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch said this difference in concerns and prorates “reflects the significant advances in meeting the needs of bus passengers in the capital – many of these improvements were advocated and pressed for by London TravelWatch. TfL would do well to take serious note of this research to ensure that these advances are built upon and the level of service is maintained to meet the demand.”
Grant said it was “vital that Transport for London listens to the debate, and thinks carefully about how to meet passengers’ expectation and demand.”
The full report – Bus Passengers’ Priorities for Improvement in London – can be downloaded from the TravelWatch website.
Bill says
May 25, 2010 at 3:12 pmThe link to the PDF is not quite right.
Nick says
June 7, 2010 at 2:55 pmThis sudden ‘major’ piece of research looks like London TravelWatch is trying to save its own skin ahead of the review.
LTW has for the past 4 years been rubber stamping cuts to services in return for fake assurances and then does nothing when the assurances fall through, It lacks passion or advocacy to really stand up for users and some of its personnel appear to be sycophantic to Whitehall and others.
London needs a watchdog to stand up for it, not some quango of failiures and bureaucratic middle-(wo)men. London TravelWatch is more of a compliant poddle. Time to put it down and save taxpayers a lot of money