Bus minister Nusrat Ghani says: “By requiring bus operators to share their data, we can make sure that passengers have the information they need to catch the bus with ease, equipped with the right information about the time and cost.”
Additionally, the consultation will also look at making companies provide audio and visual information on buses to help disabled and the elderly passengers travel more confidently.
James White, senior campaigns manager at the charity Guide Dogs, says: “Accessible information on board buses is absolutely vital to help people with sight loss travel with confidence.”
The project will also support local services where demand is failing and help increase ridership across the UK.
Ghani made the announcement at Reading Buses, which is already using open data to improve bus journeys. The operator says it has seen a 48% increase in ridership through a number of initiatives focused on making information more easily available.
The UK government has launched a consultation on whether bus operators should be legally obliged to share data with the public. If the answer is yes, then passengers across the country would be given real-time information on routes, timetables and fares.
