NOTTS: HAPPIEST BUS PASSENGERS IN UK

People who use the buses in Nottinghamshire are more satisfied than anywhere else in the country, a new survey has shown.
Cheer up! You could be waiting for a bus somewhere other than Notts!Cheer up! You could be waiting for a bus somewhere other than Notts!
Cheer up! You could be waiting for a bus somewhere other than Notts!

Passengers were overwhelmingly supportive of the punctuality, cleanliness, information availability, and the helpfulness of bus drivers.

Overall customer satisfaction was 93 percent, among the 1,200 people asked throughout the county.

That was the highest satisfaction of any local authority in the country, out of the 24 areas which took part in the survey.

Three of the main bus operators in Nottinghamshire also ranked in the top four nationwide, out of 64 providers.

Nottingham City Transport scored the second-highest customer satisfaction in the country,  Stagecoach East Midlands came third and Trentbarton came fourth.

However just 70 percent of the bus passengers asked said they thought buses in Nottinghamshire provided good value for money.

The figures were revealed in the annual Bus Passenger Survey, which the county council contributes to.

Every year, it asks 40,000 passengers across the country for their views on the buses.

Findings of the survey were presented at a county council meeting today.

Councillor John Knight represents the Kirkby North ward for Labour.

He said: “First of all congratulations, because any public service which gets 93 percent customer satisfaction is very impressive.

“But I think where it falls down is on value for money.”

Councillor Knight said it was becoming more frequent for drivers not to be able to give change, and that they would offer a credit note to the value of the change they couldn’t give.

He said: “The onus ought to be on the company to carry change. I know they can give you a credit note, but no-one ever uses them.”

Councillor David Martin represents the Selston ward for Ashfield Independents.

He said: “ I have been asked by several constituents why the Robin Hood Card (Which provides cheaper travel for young people in Nottingham City) can’t be expanded across the county, because for young people to be able to travel down to the city where the bus trams and everything else takes effect would be a real advantage.”

Council officers said they will be conducting a full review of bus services later in the year, and delivering better value for money would be one of the areas considered.

Kit Sandeman , Local Democracy Reporting Service