A report from the Independent Transport Commission finds that men aged 17 to 39 make 14% more trips a year (355) compared to a decade ago, with women of the same age making 5% more journeys (336).

Among the over 60s, men made 4% more trips (296) but women in the same age group made 2% fewer journeys (289).

Total mileage covered on a bus increased 5% among men aged 17 to 39 but fell 20% among women over 60.

The study, compiled by Dr Scott Le Vine of Imperial College London and Emeritus Professor Peter White from the University of Westminster, uses National Travel Survey data to explore what has been happening to bus travel demand in England since 2009.
 
But while buses may be enjoying a revival among younger people, the study finds that traditional bus markets are in decline. Outside of London the number of annual bus journeys in England fell by 15% and the traditional ‘core users’ have seen usage fall most steeply due, it says, to increased car ownership.

Bus use among the unemployed, students, non-car owners and those with a low personal income of less than £5000 were found to decrease over the study period by between 10 and 15%.

There is said to be no strong evidence across the country that buses have lost market share to private hire services such as Uber and taxis. But local bus trips made for the purposes of shopping declined by a quarter since 2009 due to the increased popularity of online retail and the decline of the high street.

The greatest declines in bus use were seen in rural counties such as Lincolnshire and Yorkshire and historic industrial areas including Stoke and Middlesbrough.
However much of southern England including low density locations (West Berkshire and Cornwall) and urban areas where bus usage was already high (Reading, Bristol and Brighton), have seen bus use increase.

Independent Transport Commission director Dr Matthew Niblett said: “While traditional core bus markets – people on low incomes, non-car owners, students, pensioners and those shopping – have been turning away from the bus since the great recession in 2008, it’s not all gloom for bus travel.

“The gender gap has narrowed, economically flourishing cities in southern England have delivered strong numbers, while usage has intensified among younger men.”

He added that the decline in bus travel outside London has been caused by a shrinkage in the proportion of the population who are bus users, rather than existing travellers using the bus less.

Government announced a plan to publish a national bus strategy last September, backed by £220M of funding to expand, decarbonise and modernise the bus network through the use of technology.

Last week, infrastructure group Britpave has said that investing in ‘guided’ busways that segregate buses from other motor traffic would help to address declining passenger numbers and ease congestion in towns and cities.

“Guided busways offer assured reliability and punctuality,” said its chairman Joe Quirke. “Last year the Leigh to Ellenbrook busway carried over three million passengers and it is estimated the busway resulted in 580,000 fewer car journeys.”

(Photograph: Urban Transport Group)