London Bus Usage Declines as Slower Journeys and Service Reductions Create Challenges

New data from Transport for London (TfL) reveals that bus travel across the capital remains below pre-pandemic levels, highlighting ongoing challenges for one of the city’s most important public transport networks.

While walking and cycling have seen sustained growth since 2019, bus and tram patronage has yet to recover fully, with concerns growing that slower journeys, longer waiting times and service reductions are making buses less attractive to passengers.

According to TfL figures, daily bus and tram journeys fell from approximately 3.7 million in 2019 to 3.4 million in 2024, representing an 8% decline. In contrast, cycling activity has increased significantly, rising by 20% compared with pre-pandemic levels.

The figures point to changing travel habits across London, but they also highlight growing operational pressures on the bus network itself.

Over the past four years, average bus speeds have steadily declined. TfL data shows that buses travelled at an average speed of 10.27mph in 2020/21, falling to 9.17mph in 2024/25 — a reduction of 11%.

Passengers say the impact is becoming increasingly noticeable.

Charlotte Hocquet, who has lived in London for eight years, believes bus journeys have become less practical.

“Buses feel noticeably slower than they used to, largely because traffic has worsened and buses make frequent stops,” she said.

“What frustrates me most is the balance between waiting time and journey time: you can wait quite a while for a bus to arrive, only for it to move slowly once you’re on it.”

Reliability has also become a growing concern. Average excess wait times — the additional time passengers wait beyond a scheduled arrival — have increased by 31%, rising from 61 seconds in 2020/21 to one minute and 20 seconds in 2024/25.

For many travellers, these delays are influencing transport choices.

Hocquet added: “In many cases, if the bus stop isn’t right outside my house, or right outside the place I’m travelling from, I’d rather walk an extra five minutes to the Tube. It’s usually more reliable, more frequent and less affected by traffic, so the overall journey often ends up being quicker.”

However, not all Londoners have alternative transport options available.

Hanna Dodgson, who relies on buses to reach work and connect with rail services, said timetable reliability remains a significant issue.

“Bus times aren’t always accurate, and I depend on the bus to get to work. If it arrives earlier or later than scheduled, I can miss my connecting train and end up late.”

Passengers using routes across north and east London have reported similar experiences. Kiran Duggal, a regular user of the 394 route serving Islington and surrounding communities, said delays have become commonplace.

“The 394 is a really important route that connects communities across north-east and east London, but it’s always late. Roadworks make journeys even slower, and it never seems to run on time.”

Service Changes Raise Concerns

As passenger numbers remain below previous levels, TfL faces increasing pressure to balance network performance with financial sustainability.

Lower ridership reduces fare income, making it more difficult to maintain services while managing operational costs. Critics argue this creates a self-reinforcing cycle where service reductions make buses less attractive, leading to further declines in usage.

According to information obtained by the Green Party on the London Assembly, around 40 bus routes have been reduced or withdrawn since April 2024. The figure excludes several timetable changes that have reduced frequencies on existing routes.

Among the routes affected are the 13 and 32, while TfL is also consulting on proposals affecting routes 19 and 38 in central London. Reductions have already been introduced on route 484, which serves King's College Hospital.

Political figures have voiced concerns over some of the changes.

Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith criticised the reduction of services on the 379 route between Chingford Bus Station and the Yardley Lane Estate.

“I continue to be deeply concerned about the arbitrary manner in which the decision to reduce the 379 bus service was made and how it has been handled, and I have already submitted a complaint and have requested a further meeting.”

The revised timetable reduces services during key periods and has prompted concerns among residents who rely heavily on the route, particularly older and more vulnerable passengers.

In south-east London, Labour MP Ellie Reeves has also expressed concern regarding reduced frequencies on the 484 route.

“I am deeply concerned about the recent cuts to the 484 bus. It’s a vital route linking communities across south east London and provides essential access to key destinations, including King’s College Hospital.”

She added:

“I spoke with TfL representatives this morning to hold them to account regarding this decision and ensure that passengers will not see their journeys disrupted or miss important appointments as a result.”

Cost Pressures Impact Travel Choices

Affordability remains another important factor influencing travel decisions.

While London's bus fares remain among the lowest in the UK, the current £1.75 fare is higher than inflation-adjusted equivalents from previous decades. Some passengers also note that railcard-linked Oyster discounts available on Tube and rail services do not apply to bus journeys.

For Hocquet, the price difference between buses and discounted off-peak Tube travel has become increasingly marginal.

“Another factor for me is cost. I have a 16–25 Railcard linked to my Oyster, so off-peak Tube fares are discounted, and I travel to work mostly during off-peak times.”

“As bus fares have gone up over the years, the price difference between a bus journey and an off-peak Tube journey often feels negligible.”

In response, Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has announced a new Weekend Hopper initiative designed to encourage greater use of buses and trams during the summer holidays.

The scheme will allow passengers unlimited bus and tram travel on weekends for the cost of a single fare across six weekends between late July and the end of August.

Announcing the initiative, Khan said:

“I know how expensive the summer holidays can be for families and my new Weekend Hopper – which is a whopper of a deal – will make it cheaper and easier for Londoners and visitors to enjoy all that our great city has to offer this summer.”

He added:

“I know that buses and trams are a real lifeline for many Londoners, and I’m determined to keep them the most accessible and affordable mode of transport in the capital as we continue building a greener, fairer, better London for everyone.”

A Network at a Crossroads

Despite growing investment in active travel and efforts to improve affordability, buses remain an essential mode of transport for millions of Londoners, particularly in areas not served by the Underground or rail network.

However, declining passenger numbers, slower journey times, increasing waiting times and ongoing service reductions present significant challenges for the future of the network.

While TfL maintains that service changes are designed to match demand and improve operational efficiency, concerns remain that continued reductions could further discourage bus use, making it increasingly difficult to reverse the downward trend in ridership.