Why it matters: Public transport usage data provides interesting insights into our region's post-pandemic recovery and the accessibility of travel options for Suffolk residents.
By the numbers:
13.2 million bus journeys in Suffolk (year to March)
Down 13% from five years ago
26% decrease over the past decade
Current levels are 15% below the pre-pandemic figure of 15.5 million
The bigger picture: Suffolk's declining bus usage reflects a national trend. Across England, passengers made 3.6 billion journeys last year - a modest 7% rise from the previous year but still well below the pre-pandemic level of 4.1 billion.
Between the lines: While motoring costs have increased roughly three-and-a-half times since 1987, bus fares have risen six-fold in the same period, according to the Office for National Statistics.
What they're saying: "It's encouraging that once again we're seeing more people take the bus, helped by the £2 bus fare cap making bus travel more affordable in the past year," said Silviya Barrett from Campaign for Better Transport. "But to truly see more people using buses more frequently, we need to see a boost to service provision and frequency too."
What's next: The £2 cap on single bus fares in England will rise to £3 from 1 January, as announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in October.
Bottom line: While Suffolk's bus usage shows signs of recovery with a one-million journey increase, the long-term trend points to a significant decline in public transport use, complicated by rising fares and changing travel behaviours.
