“Ahead of the forthcoming Spending Review, we are urging government to give councils control over the Bus Service Operators’ Grant, and properly fund national free bus pass schemes, which could help us maintain our essential bus services, reduce congestion and protect vital routes.”
Responding to Department for Transport figures published today showing that local bus passenger journeys in England have fallen by 1.6 per cent for the year ending December 2018, Cllr Marianne Overton, Vice Chair of the Local Government Association, said:
“These figures reflect the downward spiral of decline in bus journeys, which drives the fare increases which exacerbates cuts to bus services.
“Councils want to protect the bus services which provide a vital service for our communities and are a lifeline for our most vulnerable residents.
“Ahead of the forthcoming Spending Review, we are urging government to give councils control over the Bus Service Operators’ Grant, and properly fund national free bus pass schemes, which could help us maintain our essential bus services, reduce congestion and protect vital routes.”
Notes to editors
- Since 2013/14 there were more than 297 million fewer bus journeys across the country in 2017/18 - a decrease of 6.4 per cent.
- Since 2010/11 more than 3,000 supported bus services have been reduced, altered or withdrawn.