Almost four out of 10 pensioners are using buses more since they were given free travel by the Government, research shows.
One-third of users are making journeys they would have made by car, while one in eight was making journeys they would not have made before, the first major survey since the introduction of the National Concessionary Fare Scheme last year has revealed.
The results were revealed to the Passenger Focus annual conference at the British Library in London on Wednesday 22 April, which saw the launch of the rail watchdog’s new bus, coach and tram passenger representation role.
In the research, Integrated Transport Planning conducted a survey of 2,000 pass-holders and non-pass holders in Birmingham, Bath, Scarborough and Newark-on-Trent in January and February this year.
Around one in five of all passengers said bus services had become more crowded since the introduction of the new concession, and a similar number said they had actually experienced overcrowding. But 94% said they were usually or always able to get a seat on the buses they regularly used, although 3% said they usually had to stand due to crowding.
The Passenger Focus bus operation is being headed by David Sidebottom, who told Surveyor that the results would be published annually, although they might give informal feedback to operators in the meantime.
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