Residents in the borough of Reading are more satisfied with their public transport network – and buses in particular – than any other local authority area in England and Wales.
 
In a national poll, Reading and its public transport network have come out top for satisfaction.
 
The National Highways and Transport Network Survey, which helps local authorities to benchmark themselves against each other to see what value they are giving to their local people, is carried out annually through Ipsos Mori.  
 
The survey involved 3,800 sets of questionnaires being sent out to people within the borough asking for their satisfaction with the road and traffic network, including public transport.
 
For ‘satisfaction with public transport’ Reading was top with 73% of respondents saying they were satisfied - well above the average of 60%. 
 
Satisfaction with local bus services in Reading was top with a massive 84%, compared to the average of 62%, and public transport information was top with 73% against the average of 51%. 
 
“This is a fantastic result for Reading and, of course for us too at Reading Buses,” said Martijn Gilbert, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer. 
 
“We have worked extremely hard to ensure we are offering an award winning service to the people of Reading and the surrounding area and this survey shows, alongside the work of Reading Borough Council’s highways and transport teams, we are doing a good job. 
 
“We recognise, however, that congestion and knock on delays remain the single biggest challenge facing bus services and we continue to work with our stakeholders to make the case for the bus as the best way to get around, in turn helping to ease congestion."
 
Martijn pointed to some of the initiatives that have helped to grow the number of customers on Reading Buses network and increase satisfaction.  These include: 

• Environmentally friendly buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) 
• Free WiFi on most buses 
• High quality interiors – including modern seating fabrics and wood effect flooring 
• New on-bus technology and connectivity such as ‘next stop’ audio and visual systems, USB charging points for people’s mobiles and tablets

“We have invested a lot of time and money in our vehicles so that not only do the buses look and feel great to use, but with the USB charging and WiFi amongst other features, people can make the most of their journey without having to worry about driving and parking. 
 
“But it’s also the human element that makes a big difference – we have a fantastic team of drivers who consistently go above and beyond to give great customer service to the people of Reading.”
 
Councillor Tony Page, Deputy Leader of Reading Borough Council and Lead Member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “Reading Buses – owned by the Council - is one of our greatest community assets. 

“I’m delighted that these most recent independent surveys confirm the high quality of service delivered by the Council’s bus company. Operating reliable bus services in Reading can be challenging and the Council is committed to close working with all bus operators to promote further priority measures that deliver improved bus punctuality.”
 
This announcement mirrors a similarly great result from the National Bus Passenger Survey with the results of that announced on Monday March 14 showing Reading Buses had climbed to 5th overall for satisfaction scores – an overall satisfaction score of 93%.