Councillors will hear next week about the city’s plans to make Brighton & Hove’s bus services even better.
A report will be presented to Cabinet members on Thursday 20 March which will set out what the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) will deliver over the next 12 months.
In December last year, the council was awarded just over £9 million by the Department for Transport to continue the delivery of our BSIP in 2025/26.
If approved, the plan for will mean:
Read more in the report being presented to Cabinet.
Developed in 2021, the Bus Service Improvement Plan aims to improve bus journey times, reliability, passenger growth and passenger satisfaction.
It’s already helped thousands of families and young people with fare offers, enhanced council supported services and the new 1X, improved signage and infrastructure and funded an inclusivity research project.
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet member for Transport, Parking and Public Realm, said: “The new BSIP Delivery Plan for the next 12 months is very exciting. We’re going to be able to offer cheaper fares for passengers, support new services while maintaining existing ones, improve journey times and generally make the passenger experience better than ever.
“We have a fantastic bus network in Brighton & Hove and the highest per capita bus use outside of London, but we will always strive to make improvements where we can.
“Working with the bus companies, we’re going to make bus travel an even more enticing option for residents and visitors. By providing people with sustainable travel choices we can reduce congestion, improve air quality and take steps towards Net Zero.”.
The report also includes information about how a new deal has been agreed with local operators for concessionary bus passes.
There are around 42,000 people in Brighton & Hove who are eligible for an Older Person’s or Disabled Person’s bus pass. The number of journeys made with a concessionary pass increased by almost 10% in the last year.
The council reimburses bus operators for their travel. The Brighton & Hove scheme is more generous than the national scheme in the hours that concessionary passes can be used. Older people can use their passes between 9am and 4am Monday to Friday and all day at weekends while disabled people can use their passes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Councillor Muten added: “The new concessionary travel deal is very good news for more than 40,000 people in Brighton & Hove who are eligible for an older or disabled person’s bus pass.
“They’re a lifeline for so many people to access shops, hospitals and other key services, or to connect with friends and family.
“It’s crucial we make our city accessible and inclusive as possible, which is why our concessionary fares scheme already operates for far longer than the statutory minimum.”
