All aboard! Last weekend, Greater Manchester made history as the first place outside London to bring its bus system into public control. Since 1986 - when buses were deregulated - fares have almost doubled, routes have been cut and fewer people are taking the bus. The Bee Network is Mayor Andy Burnham's answer to the problem. We spoke to him in 2021 about his commitment to make the region's buses better. We also talked to transport expert Nicole Badstuber about why London's buses never suffered the same fate as elsewhere in the country, and to Ian Taylor about visionary public transport systems in Europe and further afield. Will other parts of Britain soon see their buses back in public hands?

See you on Monday for our next episode of Reasons to be Cheerful!

Guests

Nicole Badstuber, Transport Expert (@nicolebadstuber)

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester (@AndyBurnhamGM)

Ian Taylor, Transport for Quality of Life

More information

Listen to RTBC Episode 23: Ding, ding, next stop: sorting out the buses

Listen to RTBC Episode 192 Ticket to ride: buses, Burnham and public control

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Reasons Revisited: On the buses