Bus survey seeks to make routes more attractive and viable

The current contract for a number of town centre routes expires this autumn

Banbury’s bus users – and those who currently don’t use any of the local bus services – are being asked to complete a survey which aims to improve what’s on offer and make using the bus more attractive to potential users.  

In the face of future limitations to the subsidises available, its hoped increasing usage will help make the routes more financially viable.

The contract to provide busses on the B3, B4, B5 and B9 routes expires this November.   These services operate in and around Banbury town centre and are subsidized with money from various housing and employment developments in the town.

The funding for these routes is finite and the aim is to build up the numbers of passengers using them, so that they become financially sustainable through the fares charged in the future.

Stagecoach currently holds the contract to operate the routes.   Oxfordshire County Council sets the frequency of the busses and the routes, but Stagecoach sets the fares.

Ahead of putting the contract out to tender the County Council is asking for our ideas of changes that could be made to better serve the town and make the routes more attractive to those that may not currently be bus users.

The routes specifically covered by the survey are:

• B3: Bodicote, Longford Park and Cherwell Heights to Banbury Town Centre
• B4: Hanwell View / Hardwick Hill via Southam Road to Banbury Town Centre
• B5: Bretch Hill to Banbury Town Centre
• B9: North West Banbury (Sussex Drive, Warwick Road, Dukes Meadow Drive, Rother Road) via Highlands to Banbury Town Centre and continuing on via Middleton Road to Banbury Gateway

You can take part in the survey here.

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Published: 26/06/2023 10:49am by Banbury FM Newsteam

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