Passengers return to buses in highest numbers since pandemic

The latest annual figures show that passenger numbers on these services have surged by 50% since 2019/20, along with the number of miles operated by our services.

To mark the milestone, Cllr Rupert Swarbrick, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, took a trip on one of our rural routes through Ribchester to meet passengers who rely on bus services.

"My wife and I use buses regularly and they are a blessing to us," said Roy, from Ribchester.

"We use them to go to Blackburn and Clitheroe and the local service is as good as we have ever had it. It's hourly, serves all the rural routes and I cannot understand why it isn't used more. Where I live, it's a sleepy village but the traffic is terrible now, I much prefer the bus."

Jean, also from Ribchester, revealed she prefers getting the bus to get around and stressed the importance of having a regular, reliable service.

Jean said: "If you are going for a day out to the seaside or to a local town and you are a driver, it would be much easier to get on a bus.

"When you drive, the roads are narrow, and you need to find somewhere to park.

"A regular, reliable service is really important. You use buses when you are on holiday, so why not here, too?"

Pilkington Bus driver Graeme Tonge added: "The more it's used, the more it will stay. If it's empty, it's no good to anyone - so keep using it!"

There are a number of benefits for bus users, as well as for the environment. Green benefits include reduced emissions and cleaner air, reduced congestion and accidents on the roads and a lower carbon footprint.

There are also many health and wellbeing benefits, as walking to and from the bus stop can be an effective way to get active and reach your daily step goal.

Bus use has also been boosted by measures rolled out to help residents during the cost-of-living crisis. At the start of 2023, a government initiative was launched to encourage people to try the bus, with all main Lancashire bus operators offering a maximum fare of just £2 for any single journey, which has been extended to December 2024.

In May, it was announced that all adult fares on all Sunday services would be reduced to just £1, matching the price already available after 7pm every day that was introduced in early 2023 to support the local evening economy of Lancashire.

The bargain fare for single adult journeys is being brought in as part of a £7.025m package of improvements recently agreed by Lancashire County Council's cabinet and Enhanced Partnership Board, thanks to new funding from the government in support of its Bus Service Improvement Plan.

County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said:

"It’s so important to us that Lancashire's residents have access to frequent, reliable and affordable transport that they can rely on for travel to work, access to healthcare and days out.

"We hope that these fantastic figures will continue to rise as residents continue to return to public transport. We plan to continue creating a network which more people will use for regular journeys, with more services throughout the day, as well as at evening and weekends.

"The £2 fares have been popular during the cost-of-living crisis. In the 2023/24 financial year, a total of 40.394 million passengers boarded buses in Lancashire, marking a 9% increase compared to the previous year and a 3% rise from pre-pandemic levels.

"Part of this is due to the expansion of supported bus services, fuelled by increased funding from both Lancashire County Council and the government's Bus Service Improvement Plan.

"Our Public and Integrated transport team is optimistic about the future of bus travel in Lancashire, attributing the success to strategic investments and ongoing efforts to improve the bus network."