Up until the 1980s buses in England were mainly run by local councils and transport authorities. Then deregulation meant that buses had to be sold off to private companies. In London Transport for London were allowed to move to a franchised system where routes, fares and standards for vehicles were set and private companies bid to run each route. Users need not care who runs their bus as their tickets will work on any bus but can expect a constant experience. However in the rest of England we have a patchwork of private operators. They get to decide what routes to run and their frequency. They set the prices and usually won't accept tickets from other operators. While in London Bus usage has gone up in the rest of the country it has declined. We want West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take control of our buses for the benefit of everyone in West Yorkshire. Creating a proper network of reliable buses built around the needs of the region. More profitable routes can be used to cross fund less profitable but vital routes. Currently bus companies can make profits from busy routes and then get additional public money to run the vital services subsidised by councils. There is now legislation to let this happen, the Bus Services Act 2017 [5] finally allows Combined Authorities to move to a franchised system like London's. Only last week Greater Manchester CA announced their plans to proceed with these new powers [6]. WYCA can't currently do this as we have no elected mayor because of a dispute with central government around how devolution should work in Yorkshire. Once this is sorted out we want WYCA (or any Yorkshire-wide Authority that replaces it) to move to a franchised system as soon as possible. However before then there is an opportunity. FirstBus and Arriva's parent companies are about to put their West Yorkshire operations up for sale. Together they represent more than 80% of bus services in West Yorkshire [4]. We are calling on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take action to buy these operations. This will make it much easier to move to franchising in the future but will allow some of the benefits of this to be realised now. There will be a cost to this now but this money should be recouped when the buses are sold to companies biding for the franchises in the future. We are also calling for action to be taken to prevent FirstBus splitting up their operations to make them more attractive to potential buyers. This has happened in Greater Manchester and has resulted in route between areas being cut back and less profitable routes cut. This has had an immediate impact on people who rely on these services but also could make it harder for GM to implement its franchising plans. The current system of multiple operators is fragmented enough. Please share this petition if you care about our bus services; if you are a passenger, a potential passenger or see the congestion-reduction, environmental and social benefits of more people using them. References and further reading: 1 - https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/all-news-and-blogs/west-yorkshire-combined-authority-to-consider-role-in-sale-of-bus-services/ 2 - https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/bus-services-could-be-brought-back-under-public-control-combined-authority-claims-1-9866367 3 - https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/bus-privatisation-attacked-as-transport-chief-hints-at-changes-for-first-and-arriva-bus-networks-1-9851619 4 - https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/first-bus-yorkshire-sale-could-17027301 5 - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/558349/the-bus-services-bill-an-overview.pdf 6 - https://tfgm.com/future-travel/bus-reform Image credits: Licensed under Creative Commons from Stefan Baguette. For license and image information see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Volvo_B7TL_First_West_Yorkshire.jpg

Last year, London Overground planned to close 51 ticket offices on the network. When thousands of London Overground passengers opposed the closures the Mayor said he would keep the ticket offices open. However, London Overground is now planning to cut hours at 45 stations and close the ticket offices altogether at Brondesbury, White Hart Lane and West Hampstead. In addition to the three proposed closures, the following ticket offices are facing cuts to hours: Acton Central, Anerley, Brondesbury Park, Bruce Grove, Bush Hill Park, Caledonian Road & Barnsbury, Camden Road, Canonbury, Carpenders Park, Clapton, Dalston Junction, Dalston Kingsland, Finchley Road & Frognal, Gospel Oak, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Hackney Wick, Haggerston, Hampstead Heath, Hatch End, Headstone Lane, Homerton, Honor Oak Park, Hoxton, Imperial Wharf, Kensal Rise, Kensington Olympia, Kentish Town West, Kilburn High Road, Penge West, Rectory Road, Rotherhithe, Shadwell, Shepherd's Bush, Shoreditch High Street, Silver Street, South Acton, South Hampstead, Southbury, St James Street, Stoke Newington, Turkey Street, Wapping, Watford High Street, Wood Street. Under the proposals many stations would only be open 0730 – 1000am Monday – Friday. Many stations are facing cuts in hours of over 80%. If these cuts and closures are allowed to go ahead, and many ticket offices are closed for large parts of the day, the RMT is concerned that: - Stations will become less safe, secure and accessible - Passengers will not be able to access all ticket types and services at a machine - Many people, including some elderly and disabled passengers, would struggle to purchase tickets and get advice - It will be easier for London Overground to close more ticket offices and reduce staffing even further in the future The RMT is urging the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to use his powers to intervene and halt the cuts and closures. A model letter to send to the Mayor, is available on the RMT website here - http://bit.ly/2oSasjk Please sign this petition and share it widely as part of the campaign to save London Overground ticket offices.

Peacehaven is becoming a large community, and we are told not to use cars, as at one point they were trying to encourage people to use a bus, hence they created the "bus lanes" for this reason

Because I believe everyone should have equal rights regardless as to whether you have a disability or not. I believe the local train stations should be accessible for everyone. Less than 60% of Greater Manchester's train stations have step free access. If ramps were available at my local train station I would have used these instead of the steps as they were hard to manoeuvre and I fell over.

The Bath to Bristol Railway Path is 40 years old this year. In that time BaNES has allowed the path to slowly degrade despite it becoming more and more popular for walking and, particularly, cycling. In parts it is extremely 'lumpy', uncomfortable, and dangerous. The recent resurfacing of the railway path at Bitton has shown how an inclusive smooth surface can make a big difference to the people that can enjoy it and the comfort levels when cycling on it. That section is a real joy to use. With the recent declaration of a Climate Emergency by BathNES, the council needs to do all it can to make active travel modes attractive. The path is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and Sustrans has recently been awarded £1.1M by the Department of Transport to fix many of the overcrowding issues on the railway path at the Bristol end. This is an opportune time for BathNES Council Highways to co-ordinate with Sustrans and resurface the Bath end of the railway path. BaNES Highways Department is responsible for the state of the railway path. We are asking Highways to include the B2B section in its 2020-21 resurfacing program and make it good for another 20+ years. The work, coordinated with Sustrans, should include: - Siding out the path re-establishing the full width of the path. - Repairing root damage and subsidence. - Adding a 1m wide maintenance mow strip either side of the path for easy long-term maintenance. - Resurfacing the 40 year old surface to the standard done on the Bitton section of the B2B, providing an inclusive smooth surface that all people can use comfortably. The Bath to Bristol Railway path is probably the council's best walking and cycling traffic free route and has been neglected for decades. With the railway path celebrating its 40th birthday, it's time the council gave it a present that preserves it for the next 40 years.

Manchester is one of the most polluted cities in the UK, with approximately 1200 people a year here dying prematurely due to air pollution. We need to drastically reduce carbon emissions too. One way to solve both of these issues - is to turn our city centres into more people-friendly spaces. Places where people can walk more freely, breathe more easily and spend the day more enjoyably with their family. It’s good for businesses too - footfall would increase greatly with greater space and infrastructure for people on foot, disability scooter or bike. And it would link up other pedestrianised parts of the city - eg imagine being able to walk from the Arndale Shopping Centre through St Anne’s Square onto Deansgate and into Spinningfields ..without having to dodge a car once. Imagine how nice it would be to move along the width of the street not squished into the tiny pavements battered by the noise of vehicles crawling through the traffic lights. Imagine the café tables, the plants and the benches. The peace and the quiet. Come on Manchester - follow up those fine words with deeds. People not Cars! * The word pedestrianised is used as shorthand to mean closed to routine vehicle traffic. The street should be open to pedestrians, especially people using mobility aids, and push bikes, but with clear segregation to make it safe for all. Some delivery access may also be required at times as in other major city pedestrianised streets.

The real Living Wage, which has cross party support, is an hourly rate which is set independently and updated every year. It is calculated according to the real costs of living in the UK and employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. There are currently over 5,000 accredited employers. The Living Wage Charter commitment sees all employees of a company, regardless of whether they are direct employees or third-party contracted staff; receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.00 in the UK. Both these rates are significantly higher than the statutory minimum for over 25's of £8.21 per hour or £7.70 for under 25's introduced in April 2019. Give them the dignity and respect of a real Living Wage now.

Since posting on social media about his experience, it has become clear that he is not the first musician to encounter muddled and conflicting implementation of policies when boarding BA flights with expensive, delicate and sometimes rare instruments. We call for BA to clarify their policies and publish the so called 'recent change in the law' regarding the transportation of musical instruments in the cabin quoted by their ground staff. We also urge BA to ensure all staff are properly trained to understand the needs of international musicians travelling with specialist instruments and baggage handling crews are taught safe handling procedures. Unless the safety of their instruments is guaranteed, musicians will increasingly avoid using BA flights for international work.

There has just been yet another (fatal) accident at a junction on this stretch of road (the Sanham Green turning). This road, which many drivers and bikers treat as a 'racetrack' owing to its elevated position and the illusion of it offering a 'clear stretch' with no settlements, is in fact often narrow, winding, with hidden dips, and MANY concealed driveways and junctions, which have been the site of numerous accidents over the years. The Sanham Green junction, and the Bedwyn-Shalbourne and Bedwyn-Oxenwood crossing points, are notoriously difficult junctions which even locals find unsettling due to the speed of traffic approaching on the main road (often in excess of 60mph).

This is an accident/fatality waiting to happen. The speed limit is 40mph which is often exceeded. Several times cars have broken through the fenced border of Chewton Glenn. The pathway is extremely narrow at the bend approaching Hobourne site. There is no other way to walk across this boundary from Barton on Sea to Highcliffe. This is now a particular problem as Hobourne is/has closed off the cliff walk access to members of the public.

We want West Sussex County Council to address the issue of pedestrian and cyclist safety on Lodge Lane. Lodge Lane links the village of Keymer to the South Downs national park. A 40mph speed limit applies over the southern section of the road from Keymer to the junction with New Road (B2112). This section of Lodge Lane has no footpath and is overhung by trees. Visibility is poor for motorists. There are no street lights in the area. The route is heavily used by walkers, runners and cyclists of all ages at all times of day and night. It is an access route to Downlands school and a leisure route to the National Park. Guests staying at the camp site at the Lodge Lane/New Road junction naturally want to access village facilities, itself to be encouraged as a boost to trade. Traffic on this stretch of road is likely to increase as a result of residential development in the local area, increasing the danger to walkers and cyclists. We want West Sussex County Council to address this risk to members of our community, enabling us to move safely around our village and to encourage both local people and visitors to explore the village and the National Park.

This road is very dangerous!!! I was nearly wiped out this morning due to one car stopping and one not. This could have been a child! I'm concerned that it won't be long before someone will be seriously hurt or killed. Every morning, cars are having no regard to parents and children wanting to cross over the road to go to school and are flying past like maniacs! Some children walk to school themselves and it is frightening what could happen. Something urgently needs done, sooner rather than later, for the the safety of our residents.