Your article (It’s not only Londoners who rely on buses and trains, Journal, 11 July) ignores the fact that bus patronage was in very steep decline before 1986, when deregulation was introduced. Figures show that deregulation has actually stemmed that decline. In the 15 years before deregulation patronage declined by 31%, yet it took about 30 years for patronage to decline by about the same level.
This highlights that when bus services are under the control of cash-strapped local authorities, fares are higher, the market is less stable, services are being lost, and passenger satisfaction rates are lower.
It is very simplistic and misleading to compare the London bus market to other areas. London has a range of factors in its favour, not enjoyed elsewhere, which make patronage growth almost inevitable. These include a large and growing population, millions of commuters and tourists, low car ownership, car restraint including the congestion charge and high parking charges, an existing comprehensive public transport network and, not least, a very large public subsidy of more than £400m to pay for the services.
But even in London bus mileage has recently shown a reduction, due in large part to increasing congestion, which makes bus travel less attractive.
Evidence shows that where bus operators and local authorities work together in partnership, services are able to thrive and passengers benefit from more reliable and punctual services.
And we should not forget that passengers gave local bus services a ringing endorsement in the latest Transport Focus bus passenger satisfaction survey.
Pauline Gaunt
Head of public affairs, Confederation of Passenger Transport UK
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