Issue details
Diamond Travelcard Scheme to revert to its usual start time 09.00 from 15 June 2020
In March 2020, the start time for using the
Diamond Travelcard scheme was relaxed to allow pass holders to
travel free at any time, in order to enable access to essential
food shops and medical appointments. This was possible as general
use of buses had dropped to around 8% of normal. From 15 June, when
non-essential shops are proposed to reopen, the demand for using
buses is expected to increase as shop workers and shoppers who have
no alternative means of transport seek to travel into city and town
centres. Social distancing measures mean that the capacity of buses
is significantly reduced – to around 25% of their normal
level. Reverting to the usual 09.00 start time will give additional
capacity when this is most needed. Over the last few weeks,
although only 4% of the concessionary pass uses occurred outside
the normal hours, of those that did 62% occurred between 08.00 and
09.00 which is expected to be the busiest period of travel for
workers once non-essential shops reopen. The services most used
were the ones where capacity is likely to be most under pressure,
including the 75 and 76 services in Bristol.
The decision is urgent as the Government has only recently
announced the relaxation in lockdown restrictions and expects Local
Transport Authorities to manage demand to meet social distancing
guidelines. The next WECA Committee is not until 19 June, after the
date when capacity problems are likely to start to arise on
buses.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 05/06/2020
Decision due: 5 Jun 2020 by Chief Executive, West of England Combined Authority
Contact: Patricia Greer, CEO Email: patricia.greer@westofengland-ca.gov.uk.
Consultation process
West of England Mayor; officers and Cabinet
members at the four West of England unitary authorities were
informed of the proposed decision on 29 May 2020.
Decisions