What are Bus Network Accessibility Plans and How Can They Be Improved?

The Government has announced that every local transport authority must publish a Bus Network Accessibility Plan (NAP) by 1 April 2027. Introduced by the Bus Services Act 2025, these plans offer local authorities greater ownership of the accessibility of their practices and enable disabled people to be involved in decision-making, delivery, and evaluation. In this blog, I cover what is required of local transport authorities, what is recommended to them, where the opportunities lie, and how expectations can be strengthened.  

What must be covered by a Bus NAP? 

• Describe what is already available to disabled people using the local bus services. 
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the network in enabling disabled people’s independence, safety and comfort while travelling. 
• Describe any accessibility improvements they intend to make.  

Logistics of the Bus NAPs and how they can be improved 

The Bus NAP must cover any services which have at least one stop in their area. The government has published a template to assist local transport authorities to create their Bus NAP.  

Up-to-date: Local transport authorities must review and update the plan at least once every three years, and sooner if local services substantially change.  

Consultation: When preparing and reviewing their plans, authorities must consult disabled people who use (or are prospective users of) local bus services, the local bus operators, and any other relevant organisations and individuals. They should also consult other government bodies responsible for transport policy provision.  

Best practice: Beyond statutory public consultation, local transport authorities should consider a genuine co-design approach.  

How can consultation requirements be improved?  

The requirement, rather than recommendation, of consultation is a very positive step towards disabled people being involved in decisions impacting them. The recommendation of codesign is an important note. As ncat, we are working on a coproduction toolkit that can be helpful for this work going forward. If you’re interested in the toolkit, please get in touch (info@ncat.org.uk). 

The current guidance risks excluding disabled people who cannot, and do not, use local bus services because of existing barriers. The Department for Transport could improve the plans by updating the guidance to recommend that, alongside disabled people who (can) use their services, local authorities consult disabled people who have been excluded from these services.  

Dissemination: Authorities should publish the plans in accessible digital formats (Braille, audio, Easy Read), free of charge, and alongside user-friendly summaries for passengers.  

How can dissemination guidance be improved?  

Information being publicly available to disabled people is a crucial step in removing barriers to transport. For the guidance to require this, rather than suggest it, legislation would have to change. Therefore, as a next step, the Government could highlight how accessible dissemination would benefit local transport authorities. For example, authorities could strengthen their relationships with local charities and disabled people’ organisations by partnering with them to translate these plans to accessible formats such as Braille.  

Further information on pre-publication and review assurance checks, proportionality, and the first Bus NAP is available on the Government  website.  

If you are interested in taking part in the next Accessible Transport Policy Commission meeting on bus travel, please get in touch with Deniz (deniz.uyanik@policyconnect.org.uk)