Bus consultation to take place at three places across Tyneside this week

People across Newcastle and Tyneside are being given their chance to shape future improvements to bus services in the region.

The public transport network is a vital part of transport in the region with 162 million bus journeys being made every year.

Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness is launching a survey to understand how these journeys can be made safer for everyone.

Frequent bus users and those who avoid them can take part in the survey which comes after last year's transport study succesfully led to the creation of the Safer Transport Northumbria app.

The app was designed to make it easier for passengers to report any incidents after it was found that safety on board was a worry shared by locals.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “I want to know what bothers people about buses, and what we can do about it.

"We’ll be at bus stops and stations throughout the region, speaking to passengers asking them about the things our bus services get right but also where things need to be improved.

“I’ve done public transport surveys in the past and know people want buses that are affordable and reliable, but they also want to know they are safe too and I want to dig deeper into this – the routes, the reliability, the reporting.

"I know our bus operators haven’t had it easy in recent years with countless cuts to funding and the pandemic, but this is about looking ahead."

Bus consultations will take place at three locations this week, starting on Tuesday, May 24 at Blyth bus station.

The consultation station will be there from 10 am to 12 pm, before moving to Gateshead Interchange on Wednesday, May 25 from 9 am to 11 am.

The final stop will be at Park Lane bus station on Wednesday from 2 pm to 4 pm.

A survey can also be completed online here.

Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “Having a safe, secure network is a key part of our region’s Transport Plan – our shared vision for how we want our transport network to look and feel by 2035.

“We continue to work with partners to make the bus network safer and I look forward to seeing the results of this consultation in due course. Please take a moment to have your say on this important issue – it’s really important that passengers feel safe.”