One of the country’s largest bus and rail operators has called for the creation of a national strategy to address the sharp fall in the use of buses.
The Go-Ahead Group warns the English bus network has shrunk to its smallest size in more than 20 years. Passenger numbers have dropped by 9% since 2008.
The group says that research shows a 10% decrease in bus speeds can reduce patronage by 10% or more, particularly when this leads to longer journey times.
A national strategy for buses would ensure local authorities set targets for bus journey times, which would, Go-Ahead Group argues, reduce road congestion and help drive patronage growth across England.
Such a strategy would also incentivise bus prioritisation measures, deliver smart solutions, and enable bus travel to further support social inclusion, they say.
‘Rail, cycling and walking all have national strategies to secure the future of these sustainable modes of transport – so why not bus, a service which delivers more than 2.2 billion journeys outside of London every year,’ said David Brown, Go-Ahead Group’s chief executive officer.
‘National government, supported by industry, needs to set a framework that can better enable partnerships at local level to increase bus patronage to the benefit of all communities,’ added Mr Brown.
‘We look forward to working with all stakeholders to achieve this end.’