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MU Supports Liverpool’s ‘Bring Back Night Buses’ Campaign and Survey

The MU is asking members local to Liverpool to complete a short survey which will help organisers better understand the needs of public transport users, with an aim of providing convenient, safe and affordable links to local music venues.

Published: 21 June 2023 | 11:47 AM
Liverpool Hood Street bus terminal at night, with long exposure of traffic trails/light of public transport.
Bringing back night buses would be an extremely positive development for musicians. Image credit: Shutterstock.

Following various consultations with music venues across the city region, Liverpool City Region (LCR) Music Board is attempting to bring back late-night bus routes; a lifeline to the city region’s night time economy.

To help build the business case for reinstating the night bus routes discontinued during the lockdowns (like the N86 and Tunnel Bus), LCR Music Board is urging people from across the city region to complete a 60-second survey, run by the University of Liverpool.

The ‘bring back night buses’ campaign, coordinated in partnership with University of Liverpool and Liverpool Nightlife CIC, evolved following feedback from music venues operating across the city region.

Most venue representatives agreed that limited late night transport was negatively impacting their footfall and ticket sales, as well as their struggles to recruit and retain evening staff.

Take the survey.

Late night bus services are critical to Liverpool’s night time economy

Paul Reed, MU Regional Organiser for the North of England, said: “Bringing back night buses would be an extremely positive development for musicians and the wider night time economy of Liverpool. The MU fully supports this timely and sensible intervention by the LCR music board”.

Board member and lecturer in Music Industries, Dr Mat Flynn, said: “We want to reintroduce night buses that will provide convenient, safe and affordable links to local music venues. We already have the insight and support from venues, and this survey will help us better understand the needs of the end users; like the gig-goers, and venue staff.”

Liverpool’s Night Time Economy Advisor, John Hughes, added: “Late night bus services are critical to Liverpool’s night time economy; ensuring that people have a cheaper way to safely travel home from the city centre, especially the 1000s of staff who work so hard to make our city one of the best places to enjoy a night out."

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