Parry – PASSENGER INFORMATION IN A DEREGULATED ENVIRONMENT 1993

Description

David Parry examines passenger information provision in the deregulated UK bus market created by the 1985 Transport Act. Deregulation produced many more operators, frequent service changes and fragmented publicity, making it hard for passengers to obtain comprehensive, accurate, accessible and low‑cost information. Stakeholders—passengers, operators and local authorities/PTEs—have overlapping but sometimes conflicting interests: passengers need full network information; operators seek flexibility, cost‑effective promotion and competitive advantage; local authorities pursue wider public goals (accessibility, congestion relief, environmental and economic benefits) and often provide all‑operator information. Parry proposes a locally led statutory framework requiring cooperation between authorities and operators to agree standards, coordinated publicity, common stop names, rolling implementation agreements, and cost‑sharing (e.g. a registration fee levy). He highlights the role of information technology (real‑time displays), accessibility and targeted campaigns. National consultations echo these themes, recommending funding, operator reporting duties and continued research. Parry concludes coordinated, statutory promotion by enabling authorities is consistent with public interest and feasible.