GMCA Delays Bus Safety Data FOI — Cites “Commercial Interests”



On 12 September 2025, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) confirmed it was extending the deadline for my Freedom of Information request about Bee Network Bus Safety Data until 4 November 2025.

The reason given is that GMCA are now considering a “public interest test” under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act, which applies when the release of information “may be prejudicial to commercial interests.”

In plain English, this means GMCA acknowledge they hold the information I requested — but are now deciding whether revealing it would harm the commercial interests of private bus operators.

This is exactly the problem with secrecy in public transport safety. Bus operations are being brought back under public control through franchising, yet data on crashes, injuries, and safety incidents is still being treated as a commercial secret rather than a matter of public accountability.

The public deserves to know:
🚍 How many people are injured or killed in Bee Network bus incidents.
📊 Which routes and operators are involved.
🕵️‍♂️ What actions are being taken to prevent further harm.

London has published this data quarterly since 2014. There’s no reason Manchester — or any other region — shouldn’t do the same.

I’ll post the full GMCA response when it’s received (no later than 4 November 2025).

— Lee Odams
(writing in a personal capacity as a private individual)

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