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Buses World News
Buses World News
In brief: Worldwide montly news & informations about Buses, Busmakers, Passengers' and the Transport Industry
15.9.08
Small Changes To Transport Systems * USA - Could Mean Big Benefits For Older People
USA -ScienceDaily -Sep. 11, 2008: --A new study has pinpointed how simple, low-cost measures could revolutionise older people's ability to use transport systems effectively, safely and with confidence...Researchers atthe University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan Universitybelieve the measures they have identified could eliminate many of the day-to-day problems that currently deter older people from using public transport and the pavements and roads in their locality... Examples of potential measures include: - Provision of road crossings at a greater number of wide or busy junctions. - Provision of road crossings that allow pedestrians a longer time to cross. - Designing bus interiors to ensure secure handholds are provided in the wheelchair and buggy storage area, through which passengers boarding the bus have to pass. - Designing bus stops to ensure people sitting down inside them can easily see when their bus is coming, without repeatedly having to get up and down to check. - Introducing a system of accredited standards for taxi companies, to reassure older people that they will only be taken to their destination via the most direct route (Credit: Image courtesy of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - Seeing transport through different eyes: a researcher accompanies an older person on a walk-round in the Leeds area)
ASKING PASSENGERS * UK - Bus firm to get user feedback
First'sPassengers are being asked to help drive changes to a bus network
Glasgow,Scotland,UK -The Glasgow Evening Times-8 April 2008: --Firstis giving passengers the chance to have their say on improvements to the transport network - before bosses draw up their proposals...After the success of last year's pioneeringRoute Development Plan, First in Glasgowis this year asking customers to help formulate ideas by giving their thoughts ahead of a plan being drawn up...Firstis also taking ideas from its 2000 drivers and meetings are also planned with councils, health and education organisations and other groups with an interest in the public transport network...RDP 2007saw the introduction of a series of initiatives, including a new direct bus service fromPartick Interchangeto Glasgow Airport, as well as improved services to major city health facilities, hospitals, colleges and tourist attractions...The firm is also spending £10million this year on new buses...(Video from YouTube, by DaveSpencer32 - October 16, 2007: "GVVT GLASGOW BUS RUNNING DAY OCTOBER 2007 " - PMP DVD 1560, The annual GVVT running day with free bus services)
Passenger Focus to be given extra responsibility· Concerns over funding and fitness for purpose
London,UK -The Guardian, by Dan Milmo-April 8, 2008: --The government is to create a super-watchdog for public transport by giving the role of bus passenger champion toPassenger Focus, the defender of rail commuters' rights...Passenger Focuswill conduct research on bus services inEnglandand report passengers' concerns to central government and local authorities.It publishes the influential national passenger survey, which has become a widely quoted barometer of farepayers' opinions on ticket prices and individual rail franchises...The transport secretary,Ruth Kelly, said buses needed a passenger representative because of their increasing popularity, accounting for two thirds of all public transport journeys and nearly 5bn passenger journeys a year...
USA -ScienceDaily -Sep. 11, 2008: -- A new study has pinpointed how simple, low-cost measures could revolutionise older people's ability to use transport systems effectively, safely and with confidence... Researchers at the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan University believe the measures they have identified could eliminate many of the day-to-day problems that currently deter older people from using public transport and the pavements and roads in their locality... 
