Re-regulate the buses!

The Office of Fair Trading has apparently published a report today stating that the bus companies have been ripping off passengers with higher than necessary fares; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8444961.stm

Most people accept that this has been the case since the buses were de-regulated under the Conservatives in the 1980s. It was claimed at the time that the competition would increase services and drive down prices. The reality was a reduced service and higher bus fares for all. This inevitably had an impact on bus passenger numbers which dropped substantially and contributed to road congestion as many people chose to use their car instead.

!997 came with a New Labour Government who again failed to re-regulate the buses and left many towns with a private monopoly - giving consumers the choice of take it or leave it!

I have consistently argued that the buses need to be re-regulated. The only area were bus use is increasing is in London - which has a regulated bus service. Bus companies have made millions in profit over the last 20 years plus and now is the time to make sure that they plough some of their profits back to offer some social support for other less well used bus services. This cross subsidy seems to be a fair way of increasing bus services - and therefor bus use - while holding down bus fares at a reasonable level.

Lets hope, with General Election coming up, this issue can be properly debated.