Campaign for Better Transport
Campaign for Better Transport is a UK charity founded in 1972 that advocates for sustainable transport policy through research, grassroots campaigns, and coalition building. It serves citizens, local authorities, and policymakers via research publications, an interactive bus mapping tool, and annual events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Campaign for Better Transport does
Campaign for Better Transport is a UK-registered charity (number 1101929) and company limited by guarantee (company number 4943428), founded in 1972 to advocate for sustainable transport policy. Headquartered in London with 18 employees, the organization campaigns on UK transport issues spanning rail, buses, trams, freight, aviation, and active travel, acting as an intermediary between citizens, local authorities, and policymakers. It engages supporters through grassroots mobilization, email-to-MP actions, coalition advocacy, and annual awareness events such as Better Transport Week.
The organization's portfolio includes the Bus Mapping Tool—an interactive product built in partnership with Podaris that identifies areas lacking adequate bus service and visualizes investment gaps. Beyond this digital offering, it maintains an extensive 50-year library of research publications, policy papers, case studies, and consultation responses. Campaign actions are delivered through the Action Network platform, enabling supporters to email MPs on specific issues such as railway reform and fuel-price responses, while partnerships with Create Streets and others support new initiatives like the Tram Network advisory service.
The organization is funded entirely through donations, charitable giving, corporate supporter partnerships, legacy contributions, and Easyfundraising commissions. It operates as a non-commercial advocacy entity, distributing all research outputs and policy materials freely through its website. Its go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on grassroots mobilization, coalition building across more than a dozen partner organizations, and earned media rather than commercial sales channels.
Campaign for Better Transport firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Campaign for Better Transport
- Legal name
- Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust
- Website
- https://bettertransport.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Campaign for Better Transport is a UK charity founded in 1972 that advocates for sustainable transport policy through research, grassroots campaigns, and coalition building. It serves citizens, local authorities, and policymakers via research publications, an interactive bus mapping tool, and annual events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Campaign for Better Transport industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Transport Policy Advocacy
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Transportation (488), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113)
- SIC
- Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration (BPAIACAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Active Transportation & Micromobility Infrastructure (Bike/Ped Networks, Shared Mobility Programs) (BPAIALAI)
Keywords
Where Campaign for Better Transport is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Campaign for Better Transport business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Funding: As a registered charity (number 1101929), Campaign for Better Transport is funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporate supporters, and potentially grant funding. Revenue comes from supporter donations, corporate partnerships, and legacy giving.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Campaign for Better Transport product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Campaign for Better Transport is a UK charitable advocacy organization that campaigns for sustainable transport through research publications, policy papers, case studies, and grassroots advocacy campaigns. It delivers an interactive Bus Mapping Tool (built with Podaris), a Tram Network advisory service (with Create Streets), email-to-MP campaign actions hosted on Action Network, and the annual Better Transport Week awareness event, all aimed at influencing UK transport policy and decarbonisation.
Product overview
Campaign for Better Transport operates as a charitable advocacy organization offering a portfolio of research, policy, and campaign tools rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the Bus Mapping Tool (produced with Podaris), an extensive research publications library, policy papers on rail reform and integrated ticketing, documented case studies of sustainable transport projects, campaign action platforms via Action Network for MP engagement, Better Transport Week annual events, and the Tram Network advisory service. These work together to support the organization's mission for sustainable transport policy reform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bus Mapping Tool Interactive mapping tool produced in partnership with Podaris that identifies areas lacking decent bus service and where additional investment is needed; used by local authorities, campaigners, and members of the public.
- Tram Network Advisory Service Advisory service led jointly with Create Streets that advises and supports UK towns and cities considering tram implementation, including policy and case-study guidance.
- Better Transport Week Annual awareness event featuring visits to transport projects, community engagement, and activities celebrating sustainable transport across the UK.
- Research Publications Library of research reports covering rail, buses, aviation, freight, and transport policy topics to inform campaigns and policy positions; available as free downloads.
- Policy Papers Policy position papers covering eVED guidance, integrated ticketing, rail reform, fare fixing, and tram infrastructure studies to inform policymakers and stakeholders.
- Case Studies Documented examples of effective sustainable transport projects, including bus transformation in Portsmouth (41% passenger growth), municipal buses in Reading, Welsh transport policies, rural bus networks in Cornwall, and tram comparisons.
- Campaign Actions Advocacy campaigns including railway improvement, bus and tram boosting, community connectivity, and systemic transport reform, with tools for constituent engagement via the Action Network email-to-MP platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- Portsmouth bus passenger numbers increased 41% in two years with over a million journeys monthly - cited as best post-COVID recovery of any UK city
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Campaign for Better Transport
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Campaign for Better Transport technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature1 record
Campaign for Better Transport partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Bus Users UKminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor urging protection of public transport funding during cost-of-living crisis.
- Clean Cities CampaignminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor on public transport funding.
- Client EarthminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor on public transport funding.
- Cycling UKminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor on public transport funding.
- Living StreetsminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor on public transport funding.
- Transport Action NetworkminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor on public transport funding.
- Urban Transport GroupminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor on public transport funding.
- CPRE the countryside charityminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor on public transport funding.
- Greenpeace UKminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor on public transport funding.
- PossibleminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor on public transport funding.
- Institute for Public Policy ResearchminorCoalition partner in joint letter to Chancellor on public transport funding.
- UNISONminorPartnership to explore just transition to greener transport for the care workforce, producing the report 'Greening Social Care'.
- PodariscoreCollaboration with Podaris to produce an interactive bus mapping tool that identifies areas lacking decent bus service and where additional investment is needed. The tool enables data-driven advocacy for improved bus services.
- Create StreetscoreJoint initiative called 'Tram Network' led by Campaign for Better Transport and Create Streets, supported by industry leaders and experts, to advise and support cities considering tram implementation.
- Campaign for National ParksminorCollaboration on 'Green Route to National Parks' campaign focused on securing good bus services seven days a week to national parks.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Campaign for Better Transport competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sustrans: UK charity promoting walking, cycling and public transport with a similar advocacy-plus-practical-projects model. Operates the National Cycle Network and campaigns on active travel, overlapping directly with Campaign for Better Transport's bus, tram and active travel remit.
- Bus Users UK: Independent bus passenger watchdog and advocacy body. Closest direct peer on bus-specific policy and a confirmed coalition partner in2023 funding work.
- Cycling UK: UK cycling charity campaigning for better conditions for cyclists and active travel infrastructure. Direct peer in active-travel advocacy space; documented coalition partner.
- Living Streets: UK charity advocating for walking and pedestrian-friendly streets. Direct peer on active travel policy and a confirmed coalition partner; comparable funding model and parliamentary engagement.
- Transport Action Network: Specialist UK transport advocacy charity campaigning on road and rail policy, including road-building and new rail lines. Direct peer in scope and even a documented coalition partner on the 2023 Chancellor letter.
Broad incumbents
- ClientEarth: Environmental law charity that uses legal action and policy advocacy on air quality and clean transport. Broader remit but overlapping clean-transport campaign goals; confirmed coalition partner.
- Greenpeace UK: Large UK environmental campaigning organisation with a much broader climate remit, but overlapping on aviation, transport emissions and just transition. Confirmed coalition partner on 2023 funding letter.
- Urban Transport Group: UK membership body representing the largest urban transport authorities. Operates at the local-authority interface rather than as a grassroots charity, but addresses overlapping policy topics and is a confirmed coalition partner.
- CPRE (the countryside charity): Large UK environmental charity with a broader rural and planning remit, but engages directly on transport infrastructure (rural buses, rail reopenings) and is a confirmed coalition partner.
Regional players
- Transform Scotland: Scottish sustainable-transport alliance campaigning on rail, bus and active travel north of the border. Comparable mission and methods but limited to Scotland rather than UK-wide.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Campaign for Better Transport social profiles
Digital presenceCampaign for Better Transport financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Campaign for Better Transport leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Campaign for Better Transport funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Campaign for Better Transport M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Campaign for Better Transport
What does Campaign for Better Transport do?
Campaign for Better Transport is a UK charitable advocacy organization that campaigns for sustainable transport through research publications, policy papers, case studies, and grassroots advocacy campaigns. It delivers an interactive Bus Mapping Tool (built with Podaris), a Tram Network advisory service (with Create Streets), email-to-MP campaign actions hosted on Action Network, and the annual Better Transport Week awareness event, all aimed at influencing UK transport policy and decarbonisation.
Is Campaign for Better Transport a public or private company?
Campaign for Better Transport is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Campaign for Better Transport founded?
Campaign for Better Transport was founded in 1972. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Campaign for Better Transport based?
Campaign for Better Transport is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Campaign for Better Transport make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Funding.
Who are Campaign for Better Transport's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sustrans, Bus Users UK, Cycling UK, Living Streets and Transport Action Network. Broad incumbents are ClientEarth, Greenpeace UK, Urban Transport Group and CPRE (the countryside charity). Transform Scotland is listed as a regional player.
Does Campaign for Better Transport have an API?
No public API is recorded for Campaign for Better Transport.
What industry is Campaign for Better Transport in?
Campaign for Better Transport's product category is Transport Policy Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAM, Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration, with a secondary code of BPAIALAI, Active Transportation & Micromobility Infrastructure (Bike/Ped Networks, Shared Mobility Programs). Its NAICS code is 488 and its SIC code is 4700.