WHY RURAL BUSES MATTER: THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL IN THE DALES

For Catch the Bus Month 2026, we brought together voices from across the rural transport world for a special discussion about why rural buses matter, what passengers need, and what the future could look like for travel in the Dales. 

We were joined by:

• Prof Chris Nash, DalesBus Chairman
• Jonathan Riley, DalesBus Board Member & Chair of Friends of the Dales
• Paul Chattwood, DalesBus Commercial Director
• Ana Ciobanu, DalesBus Marketing Director
• Colin Speakman, Chair of Friends of DalesBus
• Matthew Elliott, Bus Reform Manager, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
• Neil Wise, Network Manager, Arriva North East
• Damian Smith, Finance Director, Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line

The discussion covered the role rural buses play in connecting communities, supporting tourism and local businesses, improving access to the countryside, and creating more sustainable ways to travel.

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