Local Transport Plan

So....we have a thing called the Local Transport Plan. It was a piece of work carried out by the county which set targets for improvements in transport. We then report on how effective we've been at hitting these targets.

All sounds good so far. It's all driven by central government, but I don't think it's a bad thing.

This week I have been sent the update report - detailing how well we've been doing. And actually, it's quite pleasing to see. Most of the "indicators" are along the right lines, and the numbers on them are moving in the right direction.

But there's a worrying example of what happens to politicians and civil servants when you present them with a target. They change it to get the result they want.

Indicator "BVPI 104" (Catchy name, eh?) which is "Increase percentage of public satisfied with local bus services".

Good good. That's what we like. Are the public actually happy with the local bus service. Important to know.

The target in 06/07 was 72%. We hit 46%.
The target in 07/08 was 72.5%. We hit 46%.

The solution? Change the methodology used so that we only collect information from bus users.

So if I want to get the bus but can't because it doesn't go where I want, the fares are too expensive, or the timetable is useless then I don't get included in the statistics?

Hmmm....