Exploring and Enhancing Community Bus Routes: Understanding Operations, Challenges, and S22 Permit Usage

 

Community bus routes play a vital role in connecting people to essential services, especially in rural areas where public bus provision has declined. This research project aims to:

  • Understand who is running these routes, the types of services offered, and the permits or licences being used.
  • Explore the extent to which community bus routes are replacing lost public bus provision, particularly in rural areas where bus availability has declined.
  • Address myths, perceptions, and challenges surrounding Section 22 (S22) permits and their use by community transport organisations.

 

Why This Matters

  • A quarter of operators in the Mapping England survey run community bus routes.
  • These services often fill gaps left by commercial operators, ensuring communities remain connected.
  • Understanding operational models and challenges will help improve sustainability and effectiveness.

 

What We’re Aiming to Deliver

  • Detailed case studies  offering insights into the benefits, challenges, and operational models of community bus routes.
  • A report with actionable recommendations for CTA and stakeholders to improve knowledge and usage of S22 permits.
  • This work will offer crucial guidance for enhancing the sustainability and effectiveness of community bus services, ensuring that CTOs can better navigate regulatory frameworks and meet local transport needs.

 

Current Stage of Research

We’ve launched the first stage of the research. Thank you to everyone who completed our survey, which is helping us understand:

  • What concerns or barriers you’ve encountered.
  • What support or changes might help.
  • How your current model compares in terms of passengers, funding, and service scope.

What’s Next

We've started the interview process with operators invited to join structured interviews to explore themes in more depth.

 

Get Involved

Your input matters. Here’s how you can contribute:

This research will focus on collecting evidence and insights from CTO’s in;

East Midlands, East of England, South Central, South East and South West Peninsular

We welcome views and involvement from all operators across England.

 

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