Members of the public are being asked to share their views on buses in the North East by taking part in Moving Buses Forward – a new region-wide campaign which will help to inform delivery of major bus improvements using Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding.

Public views will be used to refresh the BSIP which helped the region to secure £165.3m in 2022 for bus improvements including cheaper fares, enhanced local services and better access to information on public transport.

The Moving Buses Forward online survey will take less than five minutes to complete, and entrants can opt into a prize draw to win one of two month-long travel passes which cover County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.

Transport North East will also be holding in person events across the region in April so people can share their views, more details will be published later this month.

Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said:

“Buses are a critical part of the North East transport network and still remain to be the most used form of public transport in the region.

“Our Bus Service Improvement Plan has already brought forward many improvements to our bus network including cheaper adult and under 21 tickets, providing free travel to care experienced young people up to the age of 25, better, more frequent services and more.

“The region’s award winning 21 and under £1 single and £3 day tickets have now sold over 10 million tickets and we’ve heard brilliant feedback from residents about the value of the adult day tickets too – it’s certainly a step in the right direction for public transport.

“It’s important that we continue to improve the bus network as we look forward to the new North East Combined Authority which will be created in May. For now, you can help to shape the refreshed BSIP.”

To find out more about Moving Buses Forward, fill in the online survey or share your suggestions before the campaign closes on 23:29 on 14 April 2024.

Pop up events will be taking place across the region in April – full information coming soon.

For more information visit www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/moving-buses-forward/