Why Greater Manchester’s Refusal to Publish Bee Network Safety Data Matters


In August 2024, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) publicly committed to publishing Bee Network bus-safety data — information covering collisions, injuries, near misses and other indicators vital to public confidence in the network.

However, despite that written commitment, GMCA has now refused to release the data, citing Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act — the clause covering “commercial interests.”

This decision means the public cannot currently see how safe the new Bee Network bus system really is.

As a bus driver with 19 years’ experience and RMT Branch Secretary for Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Buses, I’ve submitted a formal Internal Review challenging this refusal.  You can read the full FOI trail here:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/subject_foi_request_bee_network_2#outgoing-1962324

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Why this matters

Transport for London has published detailed bus-safety data since 2014.  Those disclosures have never harmed operators commercially — in fact, they’ve helped identify risks, save lives, and improve accountability across the capital’s bus network.

There is no reason why the same openness cannot be achieved in Greater Manchester or elsewhere.

Publicly funded services should not be able to hide safety information behind commercial exemptions.  Transparency is not a threat to business — it is the foundation of public trust.


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Across England

In contrast to Greater Manchester’s position:

South Yorkshire Combined Authority has committed to exploring quarterly publication of bus-safety data and developing a Bus Safety Framework.

West Yorkshire has confirmed that operator safety plans and reporting will form part of every franchise contract.

West Midlands says it will “align with best practice where feasible,” though details remain unclear.


These examples show that franchising and safety transparency can coexist — it’s simply a question of will.


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Next steps

I’ve requested that GMCA reconsider its refusal through the Internal Review process.
If that review upholds the decision, I will escalate the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for a formal ruling.

Safety data belongs to the public.  The public has a right to know how safe their buses are.


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Quote

> “Transparency saves lives.  The idea that bus-safety data is ‘commercially sensitive’ is indefensible.
London has proved that openness works — Greater Manchester should follow, not hide.”




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Tags / Hashtags

#BeeNetwork #BusSafety #Transparency #RightToKnow #RMT #GreaterManchester #PublicSafety #Franchising #VisionZero #Accountability

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