Bus services across England have faced major cutbacks in recent years, causing significant inconvenience to communities and sparking concerns among advocacy groups like the Campaign for Better Transport. These organizations are urging the government to implement a long-term, strategic funding plan to address the decline in bus services and ensure reliable transportation for all areas.
The Department for Education’s data illustrates that bus service provision in Oxfordshire grew to 16.6 million miles in the year leading up to March, an improvement from the previous year’s 15.4 million miles. However, when compared to the 18.1 million miles recorded in 2012-13, the overall trend reveals an 8 percent decline over the last decade, underscoring a persistent reduction in bus coverage.
This phenomenon is not limited to Oxfordshire, as bus route lengths across the nation have also decreased by 21 percent in the past decade. Nationally, the total distance covered by bus routes fell from 1.3 billion miles in 2012-13 to just 1 billion miles last year. Many commuters who depend on buses for daily transportation have been affected, intensifying calls for action from both passengers and advocacy groups.
Silviya Barrett, Policy and Research Director at the Campaign for Better Transport, expressed disappointment at the reduction in bus services but noted her optimism regarding recent funding announcements. She highlighted the importance of a revised funding framework, advocating for a long-term funding strategy to ensure access to proper bus services in all regions and prevent communities from being left isolated.
Meanwhile, the total number of bus journeys across the country has shown a recovery, rebounding from pandemic lows. Last year saw 3.4 billion bus journeys recorded, a rise from the 2.8 billion the previous year. However, this figure remains below the 4 billion journeys recorded before March 2020. Similarly, in Oxfordshire, bus journeys increased to 33.6 million last year from 25.5 million the year before, though they still fall short of the pre-pandemic figure of 40.7 million journeys.
The government has taken steps to encourage bus use by introducing a £2 cap on single fares across England—a program inspired by an earlier initiative in Cornwall. This affordable pricing has helped to increase bus journeys, making public transport more accessible for many. Cornwall, notably, has reported significant increases in bus usage following its fare cap trial.
Silviya Barrett commented on the public’s return to buses, noting, “Since the pandemic dip, people are getting back on buses in their droves.” She emphasized that affordable fares and extended bus services play a critical role in halting the decline in public transport usage. Local authorities supporting and improving bus networks have also contributed to this positive change.
Despite these encouraging developments, the Department for Transport revealed that national bus passenger numbers are still about 12 percent below pre-pandemic levels. To address this, the government has pledged ongoing support for vital bus routes, investing over £3.5 billion in bus services since 2020. The £2 fare cap has also been extended until the end of 2024, funded by reallocations from the HS2 project under the broader Network North plan.
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