The recent extension of the £2 bus fare cap has been widely celebrated as a measure to support the public with the cost of living and promote bus use.

Read Here: Get around for £2′ this summer as bus fare cap extended until 31 October (Department for Transport, Gov.uk)

However, a closer examination reveals that this fare cap fails to address the deep-rooted issues that have crippled regional bus services. From the loss of over 3,000 local bus routes to the detrimental impact of funding cuts, the current state of our bus network demands a comprehensive overhaul and a more assertive approach from the government.

According to a study conducted by the Campaign for Better Transport, over the past decade, more than 3,000 local bus routes have been lost or reduced. These routes, once vital arteries connecting communities and providing essential services, have been severed, leaving passengers stranded and isolated.

The study highlights the alarming decline in funding for local bus services. Local authority funding has plummeted by over 40%, exacerbating the challenges faced by already beleaguered bus networks. In addition, central government funding has fallen by 19% during the same period, further compounding the dire situation.

While the £2 bus fare cap may appear to be an affordable solution on the surface, it does little more than mask the underlying problems afflicting the bus network. While passengers enjoy reduced fares, it is the taxpayers who foot the bill for subsidising ineffective private bus companies that consistently fail to deliver for our communities and local economy.

This approach can only be described as corporate welfare, allowing privatised bus companies to profit regardless of their failures to meet the needs of our people and communities. By bankrolling such failures, the government prioritises quick headlines over the accountability and comprehensive overhaul that our bus services urgently require.

Communities across the country, including areas like East Durham, have borne the brunt of bus route cuts, delays, and abrupt no-notice cancellations. These disruptions have wreaked havoc on people’s lives, severely restricting their access to essential services, employment opportunities, and local businesses. As a result, our high streets, which are home to independent small businesses, have suffered the consequences of a weakened local economy. The lack of reliable bus services hinders the connection between businesses and the customers they desperately need to sustain and expand their operations. This vicious cycle perpetuates a decline in local commerce, stifling growth and leaving businesses struggling to thrive. The profit-driven mentality of privatised bus companies often takes precedence over fulfilling the needs of the community and local economy.

Instead of relying on superficial solutions like fare caps and subsidies, we must advocate for a fundamental transformation of our bus services. One potential solution is the re-evaluation of ownership models, with a push for public ownership of bus services. By bringing bus services under public control, we can ensure that profits from profitable routes are reinvested to subsidise less profitable but essential community routes. This approach will prioritise the long-term improvement of services, lower fares, and increased accessibility for all members of society.

The extension of the £2 bus fare cap may provide temporary relief for some passengers, but it fails to address the deeper issues ingrained within our bus network. We cannot settle for mere superficial solutions when the livelihoods and well-being of our community is at stake. It is imperative that we reshape our regional bus services, with a focus on the needs of the community and the local economy over profit margins.

To achieve meaningful change, the government must move beyond token gestures and take decisive action to hold bus companies accountable. We need stricter regulations, enhanced oversight, and a transition toward public ownership that allows profits to sustain vital community routes. It is time to invest in a reliable, accessible, and publicly owned public transport system that prioritises the needs of our communities and benefits all members of society in the long run. Only then can we ensure that no passenger is left stranded, and everyone has access to essential services, employment opportunities, and the thriving local economy we deserve.