Confed's six-point plan to help public transport
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"MOST SHIRE counties lack knowledge and understanding of the overall implications of public transport operation and have made Inadequate financial contribution to it," says the Confederation of British Road Passenger Transport.
In a paper sent to the Government, the CBRPT calls for the promotion of public instead of private transport, and makes six points. It calls for: • Priority for buses and coaches by traffic engineering.
• Staggered working hours to spread the peak-hour demand.
• Emphasis on the importance of the coun ties in ensuring that the community has adequate public transport.
• The cost of socially desirable services being met from public funds when necessary.
• New housing and industrial developments to be planned so that they are more accessible by public transport.
• A ban on the parking of cars on bus routes.
A plea is made that the Traffic Commissioners should be retained rather than give power to the counties to license bus services, as the Government has hinted it intends doing.
"Unrestrained use of private cars can be self defeating especially in town," says the report. "Traffic congestion also makes it impossible to operate reliable bus services."
It goes on: "For many years past, bus operators have subsidised services which are socially desirable, but unremunerative.