Bus patronage in England fell by 317m passenger journeys, or 6.9%, in the five years between 2014/15 and 2018/19, research by the Local Government Association (LGA) shows.
4.31bn passenger journeys were made in 2018/19. Because of the decline, the LGA is calling on the government to give all councils “oversight” of services “so they can maintain and improve them”. It does not say where the money to do that will come from. The figure is the lowest in a decade.
Pressure on passes
The LGA has also warned that the funding shortfall for concessionary fare reimbursement will grow. It stood at an estimated £652m in 2017/18.
Councils have reduced their outlay on discretionary concessionary fares across England, the LGA says. In 2017/18 it was £85m, £30m lower than three years earlier. Figures do not include reimbursement for off-peak travel, which is legally mandated of councils.
As part of its call for greater local control of buses, the LGA is asking the government to introduce measures to close this funding gap. It also wants all councils to be given automatic access to franchising powers. Control over Bus Service Operators’ Grant so it can be better targeted is also a wish.
“The continuing decline in bus patronage emphasises the need to protect services and for councils to be able to invest in funding subsidised routes,” says LGA Transport Spokesman David Renard.
CPT response
Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Chief Executive Graham Vidler has responded to the call for increased local control. He reiterating the message delivered by CPT’s Bus Strategy. It seeks a partnership approach to deliver 1bn more passenger journeys in England by 2030.
Mr Vidler has also asked councils to help by addressing congestion. “The number one reason why people don’t travel by bus is that journey times are too long and too unpredictable,” he says. Research by CPT shows that both have contributed to more than 160m fewer bus journeys.
