London buses travel at an average of just 7.1mph — no faster than an average person jogging, new data reveals.
Figures published by industry body the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), and shared exclusively with The Standard, suggest bus speeds in the capital are falling behind, running 44% slower than other English metropolitan areas and 24% slower than other urban areas.
Congestion, roadworks, 20mph speed limits, and the expansion of cycle lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), have all been blamed for the decline.
The findings have renewed calls for investment in the capital’s bus network, with the CPT arguing that faster services could free up millions of pounds for Transport for London (TfL) and dramatically improve daily journeys for commuters.
Assuming there was a 10% increase in bus speeds across London, the CPT estimates this could save bus operators around £214 million a year.
Graham Vidler, CEO of CPT told The Standard: “London’s buses are the workhorses of the capital, carrying millions of people every day, but they are being held back by worsening congestion and inconsistent road management.
“When buses are averaging little more than walking pace in some parts of the city, it is passengers, businesses and the wider economy that lose out.”
Slow buses are effectively expensive buses, as the longer a service takes to complete a route, the more buses, drivers, fuel, maintenance, depot space and staff are needed to maintain the same timetable.
With labour accounting for the largest share of operating costs, even small delays can become hugely expensive across an entire network.
Using data from the Department for Transport’s Annual Bus Statistics, the CPT Cost Monitor and consultants KPMG, the trade body estimated the wider financial benefits of faster and more reliable bus services.
The CPT estimates that improving bus speeds could generate an additional £3.1 billion in economic benefits for London, which is equivalent to £838 per household.
“Relatively straightforward measures such as stronger bus priority and better co-ordination of roadworks could make a transformational difference,” Mr Vidler added.
“Faster buses mean more reliable services, lower operating costs, and a more attractive alternative to the car. In a city where road space is under immense pressure, improving bus speeds is one of the most effective ways to keep London moving, support economic growth and make better use of the transport network we already have.
“It is therefore vital that TfL delivers and builds on the proposals in its 2026 Business Plan to improve traffic signalling and extend the lane rental scheme which charges utility companies for digging up busy roads.”
Quicker journeys would make buses a more attractive and viable option for commuters, potentially generating an extra 81.7 million passenger journeys a year in London.
That increase in ridership could produce an additional £69.5 million in annual revenue and deliver around £284 million in financial benefits for the transport network, which is enough to fund the operation of the Elizabeth line for six months or the entire London bus network for six weeks, economists predict.
“Policymakers, transport planners, and civic leaders should view faster bus services not as a luxury, but as a necessity for holistic urban progress,” the report by CPT says.
“By investing in infrastructure, technology, and service improvements that prioritise bus movement, towns and cities can unlock myriad benefits—reshaping the future of urban mobility for generations to come.”
Investing in bus prioritising measures, for example a better co-ordination of roadworks and 24 hour bus lanes, could help do this.
A Transport for London spokesperson said: “Reliable bus journey times are essential to the success of one of London’s most affordable and accessible forms of transport.
“London’s bus network remains the most popular form of public transport in the capital, with millions of journeys made every day, helping people get around affordably while also delivering benefits for public health and air quality.
