Bus Passenger journeys down
The Department for Transport have recently released ‘Annual Bus Statistics 2009/2010′ reporting a decrease in Bus Passenger journeys in England between 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 by 0.5%.
Despite still tough times in the workplace and the current recession, passenger journeys in England increased by 0.1% between April – June 2010 and January – March 2010, which is showing slow shows of recovery.
Interestingly in Scotland, the number of bus journeys decreased by 5.2%, whilst in Wales 6.6%. Overall Bus vehicle mileage in England fell by 1.2% between 2008/2009 and 2009/2010.
Bus fares increased by 0.2% in England, noticeably between March 2009 and March 2010. In 2009/2010, concessionary card holders made up to 34% of all bus journeys compared with 33% in 2008/2009.
In 2009/2010 there were 85,000 PSVs in use in Great Britain, of which 46,900 were buses and 38,900 were coaches and minibuses. There was a 3.9% rise in the number of PCVs in comparison to 2008/2009, but a 0.5% fall in the number of buses.
Provisional estimates suggest that 50.9% of operating revenue for local bus service work came from passenger fares in 2009/2010, compared to 48.9% in 2008/2009. Figures show that net public funding support for local bus services in England fell by 3.1% in real terms between 2008/2009 and 2009/2010.
