Rural Bus Services

Around many local areas in the UK councils are facing budget cuts and one area that is being heavily hit are rural bus services with subsidies decreasing, services being cut and those that are left having higher prices. In 2013 half of the regional authorities cut their funding for supported bus services.

Bus companies themselves do not run such routes as they are deemed unprofitable, until recently the council has subsidised these services, providing a service for those living in rural areas who are otherwise trapped. Research by the Campaign for Better Transport says subsidies to routes have been reduced by £78m since 2010, with another £27m under threat this year.

Bus services may not be as clear as other big transport projects but they do make a significant difference to the economy as they are vital to underpin the economy, helping to carry people to work or town centres taking people who may not otherwise be able to make the journey if the service was cut. Every day millions of people rely on local buses to get to work, school, their GPs, supermarkets, and even to stave off isolation and loneliness. Councils say "difficult decisions" are being made amid government cuts. 2,400 routes have been reduced or withdrawn since 2010.

In France, they allow young drivers from the age of 14 to ride a moped with a small engine capacity with fixed speed of 28mph this is aimed at those who live in rural areas so they can be more mobile and can transport themselves, therefore they have less rural services.

The UK has no such policy and therefore cuts to services can be devastating for those vulnerable categories of people. Oxfordshire County Council says it is looking to save nearly £4m by cutting subsidies to more than 100 routes.

You may not personally need to use local public transport, but many others will be effected by the withdraw of these services, You can wait ages for a bus and but none will come along this will be the future trend across rural areas of the UK.

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