Putting the brakes on bus decline: annual bus stats show a brighter future is possible
Annual bus statistics for the year ending March 2023, published today, 30 November 2023, show a 19 per cent increase in passenger journeys in England outside London since the previous year.
The long-term decline in buses supported by local authorities has also seen a turnaround, with local authority-supported bus provision increasing by 12% in a year.
But total bus provision fell by 5%, showing that there is still some way to go to turn around the fortunes of England’s most-used form of public transport.
Silviya Barrett of Campaign for Better Transport said:
“Since the pandemic dip, people are getting back on buses in their droves. The national £2 fare cap is boosting passenger numbers, and we’re seeing many local authorities going the extra mile to support buses. Cornwall, which ran its own fare reduction trial before the national scheme, hasn’t just boosted passengers since last year – it now has 29% more passengers than before the pandemic, the only authority to increase patronage in that period. Cheaper fares and increased provision are putting the brakes on bus decline.
“But we still have a way to go if we are to halt the vicious cycle of bus cuts and falling passengers in the long term, and it’s vital that we do. Buses are relied upon by millions of people and are essential to cutting traffic, carbon emissions and air pollution.”
ENDS
For further information please contact the press office on 07984 773 468 (calls only no texts) or communications@bettertransport.org.uk
Notes to Editors
Read the Government’s annual bus statistics for the year ending March 2023.
They show the following changes to passenger numbers and bus provision:
| England outside London | Passenger journeys | Total bus provision | Local authority-supported bus provision | Commercial bus provision |
| Change from 2012/13 to 2022/23 (10 years) | -28% | -26% | -40% | -22% |
| Change from 2017/18 to 2022/23 (5 years) | -24% | -17% | 4% | -20% |
| Change from 2019/20 to 2022/23 (since pre-pandemic) | -18% | -13% | 10% | -16% |
| Change from 2021/22 to 2022/23 (last year) | 19% | -5% | 12% | -8% |
Cornwall’s ‘Make Big Savings by Bus’ scheme launched in April 2022, nine months before the national £2 fare cap. It ensures that that passengers pay no more than £5 a day or £20 a week, no matter how many journeys they make. This has contributed to a massive 29% increase in bus passengers since before the pandemic – the only place to have seen an overall increase since 2019/20. Government funding also allowed Cornwall to increase bus services (as measured by vehicle kilometres) by 87 per cent compared to 2019/20.
Campaign for Better Transport operates in England and Wales. Campaign for Better Transport’s vision is for all communities to have access to high quality, sustainable transport that meets their needs, improves quality of life and protects the environment. Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust is a registered charity (1101929).
