§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent guidelines he has issued on the use of bus lanes by cars. [82082]
§ Mr. JamiesonLocal Transport Note 1/97, Keeping Buses Moving, was published in 1997. This includes advice on the use of bus lanes by other vehicles, including cars.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the percentage occupancy is of the UK bus fleet on normal timetable services. [81020]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Department collects information on the number of bus passenger journeys in Great Britain, but does not have information on bus occupancy.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has(a) been conducted and (b) is planned by his Department on the effects of marketing upon bus usage. [81733]
§ Mr. JamiesonNo research has been commissioned specifically on the effects of marketing on bus usage. However, we have obtained relevant information from research into quality bus partnerships and from surveys on satisfaction with the quality of local bus services.
Bus operators are well aware of the benefits of good marketing of services. Marketing includes a variety of activities such as branding, publicity, timetable information, fares and tickets. A task group established by the Bus Partnership Forum, which comprises industry, local and central government representatives, is examining a number of surveys conducted by Transport for London, local transport authorities and operating companies to evaluate the success of marketing initiatives on particular routes or networks.