About local transport

Easy read version

This paper comes from Nexus.

It tells you about some changes which might happen from 2017.
You can fill in the questionnaire to tell us what is important to you.
Send back the questionnaire by 1st August 2016.

You can get help to fill in the questionnaire from:

Graham Robinson
Nexus
Nexus House
33 St James Boulevard
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4AX
Telephone: 0191 203 3296

Public transport is important for most of us to

get to places ...

Work
School
College
Shopping
Doctor or hospital
Having fun

About Nexus
Nexus is an organisation which provides public transport across Tyne
and Wear.

Metro
Buses
Bus stops
Bus passes
Ferry
Travel information

Nexus gets money for public transport from:

Passengers paying for tickets (about 60

million this year)
Department of Transport for the Metro
(about 47 million this year)
Local Councils (about 62 million this
year)
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Why is Nexus planning changes?

These 7 councils work together in a new organisation called the
North East Combined Authority (NECA).

County Durham
Gateshead
Newcastle upon Tyne
North Tyneside
Northumberland
South Tyneside
Sunderland

These councils give money to Nexus for public transport.

These councils have less money than before.
This means they give less money to Nexus than before.
This means Nexus will have to spend less money on public transport.
Your answers to the questions in this paper will help Nexus and NECA
to decide what will change.

Some things will not change

The bus pass for older people and disabled people
for buses 9.30am to 11pm and all day at weekends
will stay the same. The law says we must have this.

There is no plan to change the metro timetable to

save money.

What next?
Nexus will use what you tell us to write a paper for
NECA.
The paper will suggest what changes should happen.
If NECA decides to make changes, you will have
another chance to have your say.

Questionnaire
Please fill in the questionnaire and send it back using
the free envelope.

Or hand it in at a Nexus Travel Shop:

Haymarket Metro station
North Shields Metro station
Central Station Metro station
Gateshead Metro station
34-36 Fowler Street, South Shields
Park Lane, Sunderland
By 1st August 2016.
Thank you for your help.

Section 1: Tell us a bit about you

Question 1
Are you answering for yourself or a group?

I am answering for myself

I am answering for a group

Name of group: ___________________________________________________

How many people are in the group? __________________________________

Question 2
How often do you use a bus?

At least 5 days a week

1 to 4 days a week
Less than once a week
Less than once a month
A few times a year or less
Never

How often do you use Metro?

At least 5 days a week

1 to 4 days a week
Less than once a week
Less than once a month
A few times a year or less
Never

How often do you use the ferry?

At least 5 days a week

1 to 4 days a week
Less than once a week
Less than once a month
A few times a year or less
Never

How often do you use a train?

At least 5 days a week

1 to 4 days a week
Less than once a week
Less than once a month
A few times a year or less
Never

Question 3
How old are you?

Under 16
16 24
25 34
35 49
50 59
60 or over

Question 4
Are you:

Male

Female

Question 5
What is your postcode? ___________________________

Question 6
Please tell us about you (tick one box)

I am at school or college
I am not working because I am disabled or ill
I am employed
I am not employed (for another reason)
I am retired
Other (please say more):

______________________________________________________________
Question 7
Are you disabled?
Yes
No
If you are disabled please tell us more (you can tick any boxes):

I have difficulty with hearing

I have difficulty with walking
I have difficulty with co-ordination (like holding coins)
I have learning difficulties
I have problems with getting tired very easily
I have difficulties with speech
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I have mental health problems

I have difficulties with seeing
I prefer not to say
Other

Question 8
Please tell us about your ethnic background (tick one box):

I am white
I am mixed race
I am Asian or Asian British
I am Black or Black British
I am Chinese or other
I prefer not to say

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How to answer the questions

We are asking you what you think is important. Your answers will
help us decide what to change, and what should stay the same.
Please put a 1 by the thing you think is most important.
Put a 2 by the thing you think is next most important.
Carry on with 3, 4, 5 until you run out of boxes!
Like this ...
1

Most important

Second most important

Fifth most important

Fourth most important

Third most important

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Section 2: About the things we might

change
Nexus provides lots of different services:

Extra savings for people.

Bus and ferry services and group travel.
Public transport information.
Bus stops and bus stations.
Major projects

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Section 2: About the things we might change

Question 9
What is most important to you?
Please fill in the boxes with numbers from 1 to 5 (1 is most important and 5 is
least important):

Extra savings for some people (section 3 explains more)

Bus services, group travel and ferry services (section 4 explains
more)
Public transport information (section 5 explains more)
Bus stops and bus stations (section 6 explains more)
Major projects (section 7 explains more)

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Section 3: Extra savings for some people

Disabled people and older people can have a bus pass, which
they can use from 9.30am to 11 pm, Monday to Friday; and
all day at weekends. This will not change.
Nexus provides some extra savings for some people:

Some people can use their bus pass before 9.30 am to get to hospital
appointments Monday to Friday (as well as weekends).

Some people can use their bus pass after 11pm Monday to Friday (as
well as weekends)

Companion Card: If you need a carer to travel with you, they can go for
free.

All day Disabled Pass: if you are disabled, and in paid work or education
for over 15 hours a week (at least 6 months), you can travel for free all
day.

Taxi Card: Disabled people can use this card to save money on taxi fares.

Metro Gold Card: if you live have a bus pass, you can pay 12 a year, to
use Tyne and Wear Metro free all year (after 9.30 am). (This costs 25
for people who come from outside Tyne and Wear).

50p fare on Northern Rail: If you have a bus pass you can travel on
Northern Rail trains in Tyne and Wear for 50p (one way).

Child fare: if you are under 16 you can travel on any local public
transport for 60p (one way) or 1.10 (all day).

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Section 3: Extra savings for some people

Question 10
Which do you think is most important?
Please fill in the boxes with numbers from 1 to 8 (1 is most important and 8 is
least important)

Being able to use your bus pass before 9.30 am to get to hospital
appointments
Being able to use your bus pass after 11pm
Companion Card
All day Disabled Pass
Taxi Card
Metro Gold Card
50p fare on Northern Rail
Child fare

Question 11
Do you (or anyone you live with) use a bus pass?

Yes

No

Question 12
Do you make use of any of these extra savings? (You can tick any boxes):

Being able to use your bus pass before 9.30 am to get to hospital
appointments Monday to Friday
Being able to use your bus pass after 11pm Monday to Friday

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Companion Card
All day Disabled Pass
Taxi Card
Metro Gold Card
50p fare on Northern Rail

Question 13
Do you (or anyone you live with) use the Under 16 Pop card to get child fares?

Yes

No

Section 4: Extra buses and ferries

Remember! Most buses are not paid for by Nexus, so Nexus will not
be making changes to them.
Nexus does pay for some buses and ferries (where there is no other
easy bus or Metro station):
Buses to areas which have no bus or Metro service.

Buses early in the mornings, evenings or weekends.

Buses for people to get to work.

School buses.

Small buses to take people from sheltered housing to supermarkets, or

lunch clubs or other social activities.

Ferry between North Shields and South Shields; every half hour during the
day, and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
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Section 4: Extra buses and ferries

Question 14
Thinking about extra buses or ferries, which do you think is most important?
Please fill in the boxes with numbers from 1 to 4 (1 is most important and 4 is
least important)

Buses and ferries to help people to take part in their community

Buses and ferries to get people to school and college
Buses and ferry to get people to work
Buses and ferry at places or times where there is no other public
transport

Question 15
Which is most important to you?
Please fill in the boxes with numbers from 1 to 5 (1 is most important and 5 is
least important)

Buses, trains or ferries which come often

Links to other buses, trains or ferries
Buses, trains or ferries which are smart, clean and work well
Buses, trains or ferries near to where I live
Buses, trains which pick me up from home

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Section 5: Public transport information

Nexus provides information about buses, Metro and ferries:

Timetables for bus stops.

Digital displays at bus stations.

Nexus website: it has timetables, information about tickets, and you can
plan your journey.

Six Nexus Travel Shops with staff who can sell tickets and give information

Printed leaflets and timetables.

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Section 5: Public transport information

Question 16
Which do you think is most important?
Please fill in the boxes with numbers from 1 to 6 (1 is most important and 6 is
least important)

Information at bus stops

Information at Travel Shops
Information on the Nexus website
Phoning Nexus Customer Services
Information for your smart phone or tablet
Leaflets

Question 17
There are four ways you can use the Nexus website.
Which do you think is most important? Please fill in the boxes with numbers
from 1 to 4 (1 is most important and 4 is least important)

Finding the right ticket: You can find out about different kinds of
tickets.
My Journey: You can click on a map to find out the time of the
next bus, Metro or ferry at your stop.
Journey Planner: You can type in the address of where you want
to go and find out how to get there.
Service Status: You can find out if there are any delays expected
on the buses, Metro or ferry.
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Section 6: Bus stations and bus stops

Nexus has staff at some bus stations.
Nexus cleans about 3000 bus stops, and 2100 bus shelters.
(Some bus stops and shelters are cleaned by other companies).

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Section 6: Bus stations and bus stops

Question 18
Thinking about bus stations and bus stops, which is most important?
Please fill in the boxes with numbers from 1 to 4 (1 is most and 4 is least
least important)

Being clean
Staff on duty
Keeping passengers safe (Staff at bus stations, and Closed Circuit
TV, lights at bus shelters).
Having travel information

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Section 7: Big improvements to public

transport
Nexus pays money towards improving Metro stations and
bus stations.
Nexus pays money towards computers which help passengers, for
example buying tickets through smart phones or tablets.
Nexus could pay towards encouraging people to cycle or walk more.

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Section 7: Big improvements to public

transport
Question 19
Which do you think is most important for Nexus to do?
Please fill in the boxes with numbers from 1 to 4 (1 is most important and 4 is
least important)

Pay towards improving Metro stations and bus stations.

Pay towards computers which help passengers.
Pay towards encouraging people to cycle or walk more.
Any money should be used to pay for extra buses where there are
not enough; or to help more people pay less for tickets.

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Any questions?
Want to see the full version of this paper?
Want help to fill in the form?
Contact:
Graham Robinson
Nexus
Nexus House
33 St James Boulevard
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4AX
Telephone: 0191 203 3296
Or e-mail: consultation@nexus.org.uk

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