We support improvements to public transport to provide a better service for local residents. This includes roadside facilities such as conveniently placed bus stops that are of benefit to all bus users.
For information on suspending bus stops due to road works, please visit our application for temporary bus stop suspension web page.
Page contents
- Why has a bus stop been located outside my property?
- How do you consider traffic issues?
- What gives you the right to put a bus stop here?
- Why was I not invited to the site meeting or asked for my views?
- Why do you need a stop at all? Why not just carry on with hail and ride as before there's never been a problem?
- Passengers will drop litter and I do not want rubbish on my land.
- People waiting at the bus stop may graffiti/damage my property.
- Vegetation or foliage from my property is obscuring a bus stop, what should I do?
- Why has a bus stop been taken out of use or moved?
- Who should I contact if I have a query about bus stops or bus shelters?
Why has a bus stop been put outside my house?
Sites for bus stops are chosen after taking into account a number of factors, including road safety, convenience and safety for bus passengers.
How do you consider traffic issues?
Road safety assessments are complex and visual. It is therefore difficult to adequately reflect all of the traffic safety issues that are taken into account. However, they include: volume and type of traffic at all times of the day; speed limit; road width; closeness to traffic signals and road junctions; nature of property frontages; parking; stopping distances and sight lines.
Our traffic management officers are locally based and the bus operator is familiar with road conditions at all times of the day. Comments are also received from local councillors and Surrey Police. The location is therefore considered on road conditions throughout the day in the proposed bus stop site area not just at the time of the visit.
What gives you the right to put a bus stop here?
The work will take place within the public highway and will not require access to private property. Surrey County Council as the highway authority, has the legal authority to install bus stops without giving advance notice or asking for permission.
However, as a matter of good practice, we inform nearby residents when a new bus stop is planned and provides an estimated start date for the work.
Why was I not invited to the site meeting or asked for my views?
When siting bus stops it is not practical to involve residents before a decision is made as it involves walking along sections of roads discussing possible locations. To assist on the site meetings, local councillors are invited to represent views of local residents and provide local knowledge of the area.
After a bus stop site has been agreed, residents directly affected are notified before installation takes place. This allows the opportunity for comment to be made before the bus stop is in place. We do not write to every nearby household.
Why do you need a stop at all? Why not just carry on with hail and ride?
Under a 'hail and ride' type service there is no identified place for passengers to wait which could be confusing to newer passengers and may be more difficult for some disabled people. There is also the possibility that people waiting may be missed if they don't signal clearly and they may not be waiting in a safe place.
When service use increases on a hail and ride route the bus may have to stop several times in a short distance to pick up and set down. This has a detrimental affect on bus punctuality and reliability. For these reasons bus stops are preferred on many services.
Passengers will drop litter and I do not want rubbish on my land.
The council can request that the local borough council attach a bin to the bus stop if this is identified as an issue. Alternatively residents may monitor the situation and if there proves to be a litter problem, request a litter bin.
People waiting at the bus stop may graffiti/damage my property. Are you going to pay for the repairs?
It is most often the case that anticipated problems associated with bus stops do not materialise. However, if problems of anti-social behaviour do arise they should be reported to the police.
Vegetation or foliage from my property is obscuring a bus stop, what should I do?
We ask that you keep the flag of the bus stop pole clear of vegetation. The bus stop flag is not only an official road sign but it also indicates the presence of the stop to bus drivers and intending passengers. We also ask that the timetable case is kept clear as this contains important information for bus users. The Local Bus Team requires access to these frames to ensure that all publicity is kept up-to-date and to carry out routine maintenance and repairs.
Why has a bus stop been taken out of use or moved?
On some occasions, bus stops may need to be temporarily closed, or buses diverted, when road works or building development works occur. When we are told about roadworks or building work, we do our best to put up notices at affected bus stops. These notices tell passengers if a stop is closed or if a diversion is in place. Where possible, we provide a temporary bus stop close to the closed stop. The location will depend on what is safe for road users, pedestrians and bus passengers. We also take into account any traffic management measures at the site, such as cones, barriers or temporary traffic signals.
Bus stops often need to be suspended at short notice. There is not usually enough time to hold a site meeting or follow the full process used to choose a permanent bus stop location. Instead, experienced bus stop inspectors decide where temporary stops should be placed. They consider safety for all road users and aim to reduce disruption for bus passengers as much as possible. Our road safety specialists can provide further advice if needed.
Who should I contact if I have a query about bus stops or bus shelters?
- Bus shelters - Contact Surrey County Council via FixMyStreet.
- Bus stops - Contact Surrey County Council.