Bus services have been cut by more than 80% in the past 15 years in some parts of England and Wales in a “silent war” on users, research has found.
Outside London, bus services plummeted by more than 60% in 80 local authority areas, the study added.
The University of Leeds, in conjunction with the charity Friends of the Earth, examined timetables across England and Wales since 2008. It found urban and rural services had decreased by 48% and 52% respectively – with some localities faring worse than others.
The findings showed that in Hart, Fenland and Broxtowe there had been a decline of more than 80%. Other constituencies without consistent bus services were North East Hampshire, with an 82% drop in services, and Bridgwater in Somerset, with an 81% decrease. Staffordshire Moorland and Stoke-on-Trent North have experienced the same reduction in services at 78%.
Mike Childs, the head of science, policy and research at Friends of the Earth, said: “There has been a silent war on bus users for over a decade. This is not only disproportionately affecting those living on low incomes, people of colour and disabled people, who are less likely to own a car, but people who have had to give up their cars as they have got older due to poor health.”
For the 22% of UK households without access to cars, buses are crucial. The smooth running of services also helps to lower car use, reducing carbon emissions in highly congested urban areas.
Of the 100 constituencies with the greatest decline in bus services, 82 have a Conservative MP. This contrasts with analysis of bus services in London, which have stayed at similar levels for the past 15 years.
The data found urban areas outside the UK capital had an average of 14 buses an hour, whereas in London the hourly average was 120.
Friends of the Earth has called on all political parties to ensure a manifesto pledge for what it calls a “public transport renaissance”. The charity has also demanded that the next government pledges a return of “normal” bus services in the next five years.
Childs said: “To reduce pollution and cut emissions, we need the government to invest in our crumbling public transport system to make it far easier for people to use their car less and switch to greener ways to travel, like buses, trains and cycling.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We do not recognise these figures. We have provided unprecedented funding to the bus sector, including over £3bn to support and improve bus services for passengers since March 2020, £1bn of funding redirected from HS2 to deliver improvements to bus services in the North and Midlands as well asalmost £600m on capping fares at £2 in England.”
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