Fewer buses in city (From The Oxford Times)

Fewer buses in city

7:40am Thursday 9th September 2010 in

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Sir – I am sorry that Roger Moreton (Letters, September 2) does not understand the linkage between fewer buses and a better pedestrian experience. This is the result of county council policy which started with the intention to improve the pedestrian experience in the city centre without reducing our very high levels of bus usage. To achieve this, we moved bus stops out of Queen Street and, as a part of the process, negotiated a Quality Bus Partnership with the major Oxford bus companies.

This leads to a joint ticketing arrangement by which passengers can board any bus for their destination, paying with an “Oyster-type” card.

It also leads to agreement about bus routes to prevent different companies’ buses chasing one another for the same passengers on the same routes. All of this is currently coming into place and will lead to fewer buses in the city but no reduction in the number of bus passenger journeys and, therefore, an improved pedestrian experience on streets that will be less crowded with half-full buses.

Keith R Mitchell, Leader of the council, County Hall, Oxford