The newly-formed Bus Rapid Transit Association is pressing for reversal of the ‘absurd’ situation whereby promoters get charged rates for bus stops under the Transport and Works Act. Colin Eastman of Coventry council, a founding member for the BRTA, said the association, formed last December, was lobbying on areas of common interest. There were ‘a number of things that could be made easier’. A big issue was the fact that the TWA was ‘not designed’ for intermediate modes. The regulatory process was also not ‘fit-for-purpose’. ‘We have to build the route and hope an operator or operators will run the services we want them to,’ he said. Cambridgeshire and West Yorkshire had shown, however, that partnerships with operators could be successful. The BRTA has embarked on a membership drive, and hopes to have around 50 members by the end of the year. @: colin.eastman@coventry.gov.uk