London TravelWatch Bus Report

Elly Baker AM moved and Bassam Mahfouz AM seconded the following motion:

“The Assembly notes that London TravelWatch’s report ‘The Next Stop: Making London’s Buses Better’ was published last month. 

This report outlines findings on current bus services, passenger satisfaction rates and ways to make buses a more effective travel option to Londoners.

Buses are the most affordable, accessible and popular public transport option in London, accounting for 1.9bn journeys in 2023/24. One-third of Londoners are regular bus users. Passengers are more likely to be disabled, lower income, younger and ethnic minorities than users of types of transport. 

However, bus ridership is still below pre-pandemic levels and lower still than the peak year of 2014/15.

Average bus speeds have declined in recent years. Reversing this is a priority of bus passengers across London.

Increasing bus ridership will be key to achieving the target in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy for 80% of all journeys in London to be made on foot, by bike or using public transport by 2041.

The Assembly would like to thank London TravelWatch and their Bus Alliance group for their tireless work championing London’s bus network. 

The Assembly calls on Transport for London to address, through an updated Bus Action Plan, the areas for improvement outlined in the London TravelWatch report by a date no later than the next annual update on delivering the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, due in summer 2025.”

Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the motion was agreed with 12 votes in favour and 7 against.