An icebreaker activity gets everyone's brains in gear at the start of the day.
At Via, we believe that the best way to address pressing transportation issues is by bringing together the brightest minds in the industry. That’s why we recently hosted a half-day workshop in Westminster, London, welcoming more than 50 transport leaders from across the UK to share ideas, dig into the data from their own bus networks, and discuss the future of public transport.
Throughout the day, discussions repeatedly circled back to three critical themes: overcoming funding challenges, improving home-to-school transport schemes, and sharing public transport resources more effectively. Take a look back in the rearview mirror at our London Summit — and feel free to reach out to our UK-based team to learn more and ask questions.
Funding challenges in public transport.
From the start of the day, when attendees completed an icebreaker activity to get to know their tablemates, funding emerged as a leading challenge. As we circulated among the tables, we heard authorities small, large, rural, urban, and everything in between discuss the headwinds they encounter funding even longstanding, highly successful DRT services.
Despite the UK government's promise to revitalise bus services through the 'Bus Back Better' strategy, funding shortfalls have left many local authorities in a precarious position. Only 40 percent of authorities that initially submitted bids for Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) received any funding, resulting in disappointment and uncertainty about future improvements.
DRT, for many authorities, is an avenue toward reducing the subsidies they were already providing to bus routes unable to operate commercially. One Via partner reported exceeding their goal of reducing cost-per-passenger by 50% with their DRT scheme. But still, many attendees reported that DRT’s reputation as expensive made data-driven stories like those shared at the summit even more critical.
Addressing broken home-to-school transport schemes.
Councils across the UK are struggling to maintain effective home-to-school transport services amidst rising operational costs and increasing student eligibility. The workshop highlighted how digital demand-responsive transport (DDRT) software could offer a new way to address these challenges by sharing resources and driving routing efficiencies.
Many Via partners are already using DRT to facilitate broader access to education; one rural partner mentioned education as one of many goals to be “met at best value” with their service. But some are tackling home-to-school transport even more directly, by integrating transport for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with demand-responsive services aimed at the general public. One Via partner described managing home-to-school, social care, and general DRT all within the same Via platform.
Sharing public transport resources efficiently.
The final key theme was the effective sharing of public transport resources across different services. The concept of commingling demand-responsive transport (DRT) with wheelchair-accessible paratransit was discussed extensively in its own breakout session. By integrating these services, transport authorities can maximise resource utilisation and improve service efficiency.
Citymapper, acquired by Via, plays a crucial role in this integration by providing a seamless journey-planning app that can incorporate multiple modes of transport. The app's ability to offer real-time data and personalised journey options helps users navigate their cities more effectively while enabling transport authorities to better manage and share resources. With Citymapper, authorities like the Warwickshire County Council can launch a co-branded MaaS app quickly and affordably, further enhancing mobility and access in their communities.
What's next?
The London workshop underscored the pressing need for innovative solutions in the UK's public transport sector. By addressing funding challenges, improving home-to-school transport schemes, and sharing resources more efficiently, transport leaders can create more equitable and accessible systems. Via's technology and collaborative approach provide a pathway towards achieving these goals, promising a brighter future for public transport across the UK. Reach out — we'd love to hear from you!
