London's Bus Network

Following a decade of strong growth, bus passenger numbers are now in decline.

Between 2014-15 and 2016-17, the number of passenger journeys made on buses fell by six per cent.

How can we get more people to use the bus network?

The London Assembly Transport Committee report ‘London’s bus network’ tackles the difficult decisions facing the Mayor and TfL. The report recommends:

• Moving towards a more efficient network design based on the principles of the feeder/trunk model. Articulated buses (aka bendy buses) might be the best option for these routes as they provide both a higher capacity and faster loading/unloading than standard double decker vehicles.
• Improving the bus experience to attract new passengers, including the information provided online, at bus stops and on-board, and making it easier for people to change. TfL should also consider introducing Wi-Fi on buses.
• Prioritising new orbital bus routes and express buses.
• Redistributing bus capacity to outer London. There are currently too many buses in central London.
• Reforming the bus service tendering process.
• Tackling congestion to halt the decline in passenger numbers.