In her latest blog, Chief Executive, Hayley, explores how if we want to truly address rural inequality then then we need to put more emphasis on providing a variety of transport solutions, and not just  think that providing buses is the answer.

 

 

When the Transport Committee released its latest report on England’s bus services, the message was clear: more ambition is needed to undo a decade of decline and get people back on board. The ACRE Network was proud to contribute to this work, bringing the rural perspective to the fore. In Cambridgeshire, the Combined Authority has now announced that it will move to a franchised bus system following extensive consultation. This is an important step towards improving services and making them more reliable.

But in rural communities, the conversation cannot stop at buses.

Every day, Cambridgeshire ACRE’s Village Agents hear from people who are struggling with transport. The challenge is not just that buses are infrequent. Often, they simply are not accessible. For many rural residents, the walk to the nearest bus stop can be a mile or more along narrow, unlit roads with no pavements. For people with mobility issues, parents with young children or anyone trying to carry shopping, it is just not feasible.

In urban areas, public transport is often a realistic alternative to the car. In our villages, it often is not and that difference drives inequality. I hate that so many young people in rural areas feel they must learn to drive just to have a social life or get to work or college. Some even need a car to travel just two miles to see friends because cycling or walking along fast rural roads feels unsafe. This is about more than convenience. It is about isolation for all ages and about what it really means to live in a rural community.

We need investment that goes beyond the traditional bus route model. Demand responsive services like the Combined Authority’s new Tiger Bus could be part of the answer. The Tiger operates on flexible routes, picking people up closer to home, which might help overcome the long walk to the bus stop problem. But we need to see how it works in practice, whether it is affordable and if it truly meets the needs of those without other transport options.

Rural transport needs a mix of solutions including community transport schemes, shared mobility hubs, safer walking and cycling routes between villages and support for volunteer driver networks. Investment must also recognise that transport is about connection: to education, jobs, health services, friends and family.

If we want thriving rural communities, we need to stop thinking of transport solely as a bus timetable and start thinking of it as a lifeline.