In the year to March, the Department for Transport (DfT) said bus fares in England have risen by 1.7% and passengers are being hit with above inflation fares.
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation rose by 0.7% in the same period, which was driven due to bus travel increasing in the capital by 3.3%.
Bus fares have increased by 80% since March 2005, but the CPI has only risen by 44%, whilst the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said fares have are almost six times higher than they were in 1987.
David Sidebottom, director at Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for passengers, said: “As passengers consider returning to travelling by bus, it’s essential that services are clean, turn up on time and offer good value for money.
“Following the pandemic, operators and local authorities must continue to work together to attract passengers back.
“They will need to deliver a reliable service and offer attractive fares that reflect the way people want to travel.”
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