Local authorities must do more to make coaches more welcome, says the Government, including providing parking and permitting access to bus lanes where possible.
The Government is pushing local authorities and transport planners to do more to accommodate coaches as part of its Better Connected integrated transport strategy
Following campaigning by CPT, the Department for Transport says that it expects local transport authorities to “recognise and plan for the role and contribution of coach services” in their transport strategies.
Citing research published by CPT about the £8.3 billion spent annually by coach passengers in tourist hotspots, the Government has instructed authorities to consider the current and potential demand for coaches in their areas; work with highway authorities to set a vision, policies and plans for coach provision; spell out how they will provide appropriate parking, pick-up and drop-off points for coaches; allow coaches access to bus lanes except in circumstances where this may slow down local buses, and; explore ways to ‘pump prime’ funding for new, or more frequent, scheduled coach services.
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