London bus journeys on the rise

Journeys by bus are increasing in London but falling in the rest of Britain, Government figures show.

Travellers made nearly 2.27 billion passenger journeys by bus in London in 2010/11 - up from a figure of just under 2.24 billion in 2009/10.

But passenger journeys in English metropolitan and English non-metropolitan areas fell slightly between 2009/10 and 2010/11, the Department for Transport statistics showed.

There were also fewer passenger journeys taken in 2010/11 than in 2009/10 in Scotland and Wales.

Figures for England as a whole showed a slight increase, thanks to the fact that bus journeys in London now account for 49% of all bus passenger journeys in England.

The England bus passenger journey total for 2010/11 was just under 4.61 billion - slightly up on the 2009/10 total of just over 4.60 billion.

The Great Britain total for 2010/11 was 5.16 billion passenger journeys compared with just under 5.19 billion in 2009/10.

Buses in London are privately run but are regulated by Transport for London.

Patronage has risen steadily, boosted by the Oyster pay-as-you-go tickets which give travellers bus access as well as Tube and main line rail travel in London.

Outside London, buses have been deregulated since 1986.

PA