What's the Crack with the Buses? You've Got Until 25 October to Say Have Your Say on Cumbria's Buses: Survey Open Until 25 October
Marra Mode is how we'd tell you this in the Co-op. Switch it off for the straight version.
Both councils want your say on the buses — a survey till midnight on 25 October, plus drop-ins still to come in Penrith, Carlisle, Keswick and Workington. Nothing's been decided yet.
If you use the bus in Cumbria — or you'd use it if it actually got you to work, college or the doctor's — this is you.
Both councils want to hear it. Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness are running the next phase of the Cumbria Bus Reform Pilot Study, paid for by the Department for Transport, with Jacobs and Oxera on the job. There's a questionnaire, and there are drop-ins. They're after your experience of the buses now, what you need, and what you think about different ways of planning, paying for and running them. Better links to jobs, school, healthcare, the rural bits, cheaper fares — that's the territory. Nothing's been decided.
The survey's open till midnight on Sunday 25 October. It's at consult.cumberland.gov.uk/bus-reform-pilot.
Barrow Town Hall on 5 October and Kendal Town Hall on 6 October have already been. Still to come: Penrith Library, Friday 16 October, 12.30pm to 4.30pm. Carlisle Library, Saturday 17 October, 10.30am to 2.30pm. Keswick Library, Tuesday 20 October, 1.30pm to 4.45pm. Workington Library and Community Hub, Wednesday 21 October, 2pm to 6pm. You don't need to book. Just turn up.
Councillor Denise Rollo said: "This is an important opportunity for people across Cumbria to share their experiences of local bus services and explain what they need from the network in the future. Local insight is essential to ensuring any future approach reflects the needs of our diverse communities and the unique geography of the county."
They'll put what you say with the technical work. The new Combined Authority will have a say on the bigger transport picture too.
Fill it in online, or give them an hour at one of the libraries.
Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council have opened a public questionnaire on local bus services, as part of the Cumbria Bus Reform Pilot Study. It runs until midnight on Sunday 25 October. Remaining drop-ins include Penrith, Carlisle, Keswick and Workington.
This is for anyone in Cumbria who uses the bus, or would if it connected them to work, college, the doctor's or the shops.
Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council are asking residents, passengers, businesses and community groups to take part in the next phase of the Cumbria Bus Reform Pilot Study. The study is funded by the Department for Transport and is being delivered with Jacobs and Oxera.
This stage is a public questionnaire plus six community drop-in events. They want to hear how local buses work for you now, what you need from them, and what you think about different ways of planning, funding and running the network. The study is looking at how services could better reach jobs, education, healthcare and other essentials, and how to make travel more affordable and accessible. No decisions have been made.
The questionnaire is open from Monday 5 October 2026 until midnight on Sunday 25 October 2026, at consult.cumberland.gov.uk/bus-reform-pilot.
Drop-ins have already been held in Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall (Monday 5 October, 2pm to 6pm) and Kendal Town Hall (Tuesday 6 October, 3.30pm to 7.30pm). Still to come:
Friday 16 October — Penrith Library, 12.30pm to 4.30pm. Saturday 17 October — Carlisle Library, 10.30am to 2.30pm. Tuesday 20 October — Keswick Library, 1.30pm to 4.45pm. Wednesday 21 October — Workington Library and Community Hub, 2pm to 6pm.
Councillor Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places at Cumberland Council, said: "This is an important opportunity for people across Cumbria to share their experiences of local bus services and explain what they need from the network in the future. Local insight is essential to ensuring any future approach reflects the needs of our diverse communities and the unique geography of the county."
Feedback will be analysed alongside technical evidence as options are assessed. The new Cumbria Combined Authority will also have a role in shaping strategic transport priorities across the county.
Fill in the questionnaire at consult.cumberland.gov.uk/bus-reform-pilot, or turn up at one of the remaining drop-ins. You do not need to book.