Bus use in England outside London increased in the year ending June 2024 compared to the previous 12 months, according to the latest National Travel Survey (NTS) mid-year estimates.
However, the Department for Transport research also showed bus usage in the capital continuing a downward trend.
The survey showed the average person in England outside London made 27 trips per year by bus in the 12 months ending June last year. This was 15% up on the 23 trips per person for the corresponding period in 2022/23.
Miles travelled on buses outside London was similarly up – by 13% to 136 miles.
However, trips on buses in London were down 21% to 13 over the same period.
Also decreasing was mileage on those journeys, at 49 miles per person a drop of 15%.
As expected, bus usage across England has not returned to prepandemic levels. Outside London, the average person made 32 trips in 2019 – 19% higher than the latest figures show. Inside London, the decrease was 31% (down from 18 trips).
It should be noted that DfT’s separate bus statistics survey reveals that bus patronage in London is higher than for anywhere else in the country. However, the apparently low number of trips in London reported by the NTS reflects the fact that most of those surveyed live outside the capital itself.
The number of car and van driver trips made up to the end of June 2024 was 364 per person – up 5% on 2022/23. Trips made as a passenger in a car or van rose by 8%.
The drop in bus usage in London coincides with a rise in trips on London Underground of 15% compared to the previous year.
The survey confirmed the change in working habits since the start of the COVID pandemic has had an effect on trips on all modes of travel.
It showed commuting remains the second most popular reason for travel behind shopping. However, the number of trips for this is now only 113 compared to 140 in 2019 – a drop of 20%. This is weighed against a drop overall in trip rates of just 3%.
