White paper calls for a national standard for printed timetables
Bus stops with outdated, incorrect or missing timetables should be consigned to history. A national standard for printed information at bus stops is needed to banish one of the greatest frustrations faced by bus passengers, a report by Campaign for Better Transport and Optibus recommends.
The report, Better Bus Stops: setting a standard for printed passenger information, highlights the crucial importance of having clear, accurate, consistent, and accessible printed information at bus stops. But it also reveals the mammoth task for local authorities of keeping timetables up to date:
- Essex County Council must collate information from 40 bus operators to update timetables at 6,000 bus stops
- West Midlands Combined Authority handled around 27,000 timetable updates in 2024
- Local authorities can have just weeks to provide accurate information about hundreds of services at stops all along their routes.
The solution is a national standard for printed information at bus stops, supported by technology, long-term dedicated funding, and training for local authorities, the report claims.
The requirements of the national standard should vary for different categories of bus stop, with small bus stops required to display route numbers and destinations, service frequency, and first and last bus times, and larger stops required to display fuller timetables. Most crucially, all information at bus stops should be current and accurate.
Michael Solomon Williams of Campaign for Better Transport said:
"Poor or non-existent information at bus stops is frustrating, confusing, and ultimately puts people off taking the bus. Not everyone has the tools or skills to access online information, some places have poor mobile connectivity, and many people simply find printed information much clearer. A national standard for printed information at bus stops would enable people to catch the bus with confidence, get to vital appointments, access opportunities and enjoy a better quality of life."
Craig Nelson, Regional Managing Director, Northern Europe, at Optibus said:
"In many places, printed timetables remain the norm. The right digital tools provide a strong foundation for keeping that information accurate and up to date in the fastest, smoothest way possible. That ensures no one misses their bus simply because the information wasn’t there. When technology makes communication easy for authorities and operators, passengers are the ones who ultimately benefit."
Learn more about Optibus' passenger information solutions here.
Further reading:
- Case Study: How Dr. Richard Cut Network Update Time by 75% with Optibus Billboards
- Webinar: How to Make Passenger Information Clear, Accessible, and Reliable with Optibus Billboards
- What Happens When You Shift a Trip by 5 Minutes?
