Greater Manchester (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Greater Manchester launches pilot night bus services to enhance worker safety and boost the economy, operating 24-hour routes from September 1.
More night buses will operate in Greater Manchester as a component of a pilot scheme which will start in autumn. A 24-hour service will drive on the V1 and 36 services across Bolton, Leigh, Salford and Manchester from 1 September.
Why Is Greater Manchester Introducing More Night Buses?
Buses will drive at least every hour in a bid to enhance safety for workers and boost the economy, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) stated. The region’s mayor Andy Burnham stated: “Better transport at night is something I know people have been crying out for.”
How Will the Pilot Scheme Affect Night-Time Workers?
Some night buses are already headed to south Manchester and surrounding regions. About 358,000 people have careers involving night-time work, making up almost a third of Greate Manchester’s workforce.
Mr Burnham stated: “Transport should never be a barrier to opportunity and this is a step towards improving things for people who work – or want to work – in our hospitals, care homes, clubs, bars, distribution centres or theatres.”
Why Are V1 and 36 Services Chosen for Night Buses?
The V1 and 36 services have been selected for the pilot due to their proximity to critical nighttime employment sites, including hospitality outlets, hospitals and distribution centres, a TfGM representative stated. They also serve areas where individuals are less likely to own a car and more likely to utilise public transport, including students, they added.
How Is Manchester Enhancing Transport for Night Workers?
Sacha Lord, the night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, stated: “It’s not fair that night workers should face more expensive transport options simply because of the hours they work.”
A group of Travelsafe support and enforcement officers will perform on the services, forming part of the region’s new Bee Network, which handles buses that have come back under local control after deregulation 40 years ago. Colin Hayden, from the Unite union, stated they had several members who performed late or overnight, adding: “Women in particular tell us that they do not feel safe when going to and from work. “This pilot scheme will hopefully help these women, and all our members working in the night-time economy, feel confident.”