Giles Fearnley's guest appearances

Giles Fearnley

Transit Unplugged

The Freewheeling Podcast

Mark Joseph

John Holland

Simon Calder

Chris Harris

Rory Sutherland

Tom Wright

Gary Thomas

Wiebe Wakker

Brad Miller

David Kim

Andrew Adonis

Horace Dediu

Terry White

Alex Edmans

Robert Schneider

OwlTail

Giles Fearnley has founded two successful independent transport businesses and ended his career running the country’s biggest bus group.What has he learned from Blazefield, Prism and First? Are the things that drive growth the same as those that create a shareholder return? Is there a future for the big bus groups? Do we have a problem with short-termism?Giles looks back at his career to try to answer some of these questions - ending with a clarion cry on the importance of localism. 

Giles Fearnley has founded two successful independent transport businesses and ended his career running the country’s biggest bus group.What has he learned from Blazefield, Prism and First? Are the things that drive growth the same as those that create a shareholder return? Is there a future for the big bus groups? Do we have a problem with short-termism?Giles looks back at his career to try to answer some of these questions - ending with a clarion cry on the importance of localism.

Giles Fearnley on Entrepreneurship and Groups

“Anywhere in the world, running quality, high-frequency service draws people in, giving people great service at a value that they cannot beat.” Giles Fearnley, Managing Director for First Bus, is a great ambassador and evangelist for the transportation industry. First Bus runs about 19% of buses operating within the UK, but like many places, bus ridership is on the decline at ~2% per year. Fearnley discusses how congestion issues and the economy are predominant factors in declining ridership. His strategy to combat declining ridership is to improve the customer experience. Some of the tactics involve providing new faring options, ticketing and real-time information through the First Bus mobile app, increasing bus frequency, and changing their bus networks. The technology enables riders to leverage information and different payment options. Finally, the redesigned networks better connect people to jobs, shopping, universities, etc. This change has helped Bristol increase ridership ~46% over five years If you want to know more about First Bus, check out their website. Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Anywhere in the world, running quality, high-frequency service draws people in, giving people great service at a value that they cannot beat.” Giles Fearnley, Managing Director for First Bus, is a great ambassador and evangelist for the transportation industry. First Bus runs about 19% of buses operating within the UK, but like many places, bus ridership is on the decline at ~2% per year. Fearnley discusses how congestion issues and the economy are predominant factors in declining ridership. His strategy to combat declining ridership is to improve the customer experience. Some of the tactics involve providing new faring options, ticketing and real-time information through the First Bus mobile app, increasing bus frequency, and changing their bus networks. The technology enables riders to leverage information and different payment options. Finally, the redesigned networks better connect people to jobs, shopping, universities, etc. This change has helped Bristol increase ridership ~46% over five years If you want to know more about First Bus, check out their <a href="https://www.firstgroup.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Remember to check out <a href="http://www.transitunplugged.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">transitunplugged.com</a> to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

Giles Fearnley – First Bus