TfL Ref: 4547-1718
 
Thank you for your email received by us on 15 February 2018 asking for information about bus passenger numbers.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm we do hold the information you require.

You asked for:
 
Detail of reduction (and any rises) in TfL bus passenger numbers
 
Please supply by a reasonable definition of London regions (which may also include trunk routes and routes serving regional centres, such as but not limited to Ilford, Wood Green and Harrow), the fall in TfL bus passenger numbers since Mayor Khan took office.
 
Please indicate where if at all, TfL bus passenger numbers are rising.

Bus passenger usage data on each bus route from 2010/11 to 2016/17 can be found here on our website via the following link: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/buses

Details of the routes and locations of our bus services can be found here: https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/bus

We also publish aggregate bus passenger journeys from 2012/13 to 2016/17 on page 16 in the operational performance section of our current annual report: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-annual-report-and-statement-of-accounts-2016-17.pdf
 
Please explain why a 7% cut in TfL bus services is being imposed (as revealed by the BBC at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42975661 ) when the publicly-claimed pan-London reduction in bus passengers is just 5%.
 
Over the period of our business plan (2018/19 to 2022/23) overall service volumes within the London Buses network are expected to go from 486 to 453m km (6.8% decrease) between 2017/18 and 2022/23 while passenger journeys rise from 2230 to 2308m in the same period (3.5% increase), as forecasted on page 54 of our Business Plan at: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/fc-20171205-item10-draft-business-plan.pdf

We are working to make sure the network is adjusted to best cater for current and future demand. Improving vital services in central London and reviewing those that are underused, as well
as using spare capacity to provide new links where they are needed, will ensure that buses help London to grow in a way that benefits everyone. We are reducing services in central/inner London, matching demand while still supporting excellent access and complementing wider schemes, such as the transformation of Oxford Street. Capacity in suburban areas is being improved, within funding constraints, particularly to support housing growth and associated travel.

We will be focusing our activities on the bus network to provide capacity that meets demand across London. Combined with the effect of our investment in reducing congestion and improving reliability on our roads, we expect bus passenger numbers to steadily increase from 2017/18 and reach 2.3 billion by 2022/23.
 
Information on how we are funded is explained here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/how-we-work/how-we-are-funded

In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.
 
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
Information Governance
Transport For London