Bus transport in the United Kingdom

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Buses are the most widespread and most commonly used form of public transport in the United Kingdom. In Great Britain, bus transport is owned and governed by private sector companies (subject to government regulation), except in Greater London. If a socially desirable service cannot be economically operated without a subsidy, then local councils can support bus companies to provide the service, often after an open competitive tendering exercise. In Northern Ireland, bus services are publicly owned, governed and delivered, as is the case in the Republic of Ireland.

Passengers board at the front door, and unless fares are automated, they should tell the driver their destination or which ticket is required. Unless there is a separate exit door, alighting passengers should be given space to get off the bus before attempting to enter the bus. Bus passengers typically form a queue at bus stops; which may not always be apparent or obvious. Barging to board a bus, or forcing one's way to the front is not considered acceptable behaviour. Cash is accepted on buses outside Greater London, but urban bus services often do not provide change, and the exact fare should be tendered if possible. Many users are elderly people with bus passes; otherwise, regular users can often purchase a weekly or monthly pass directly from the operator. Some local authorities also offer multi-operator passes. Long distance rural bus services often provide change due to having more fare stages. Contactless fare payment is available on many urban bus services.

Potentially badly-behaved passengers should consult the operator's conditions of carriage for information on unacceptable conduct on board buses; all passengers agree to these terms by using the service. Many bus companies have a lost property office for items forgotten or lost onboard buses; passengers finding lost items should hand them over to the driver, not the police, particularly as many police forces do not return lost property to their owner.^[1] A small fee may be charged by the lost property office before releasing lost items to their rightful owner. CCTV is commonplace onboard buses in the UK. Complaints about bus services should be addressed to the bus operator in the first instance, or to the Traffic Commissioner – the regulator of bus services. Complaints about withdrawal of bus services should be addressed to the relevant local authority.