Buses: Government unveils £50m plan to create first all-electric bus town
I’m up for more in the context of innovation around bus usage. I have often found local taxi drivers are the ones who are tricky to navigate when trying to do things which they perceive to challenge their business, which in many cases is founded on the lack of a viable local travel solution for vulnerable people. A rural all electric bus town would be a great outcome to this story which tells us:
England’s first town to have all-electric buses will be created through a £50m fund, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.
Local authorities can bid for money to help pay for a new fleet of electric buses.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said buses had “a crucial role to play in bringing down emissions”.
Darren Shirley, head of the Campaign for Better Transport, called it a “good start” after years of cuts to services.
The DfT said that the winning town would be used as a model by government as it aims to ensure all buses are fully electric by 2025.
The announcement comes as part of a wider package of measures for buses.
About £70m will go towards high-frequency “Superbus” networks. One is already in place in Cornwall, where a mix of lower fares, more frequent services and lots of bus lanes has proven successful.