English report reveals that improvement in bus services would lead to growth in jobs

The report, The Value of the Bus to Society, commissioned by Greener Journeys shows that a 10% improvement in bus services would lead to almost 10,000 more people in work in the poorest neighbourhoods in England.

The research, conducted by KPMG and the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds, is ground breaking in that it investigates and quantifies for the first time the impact of bus services on tackling social deprivation.

Importantly, it concludes that a 10% improvement in local bus services in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods across England would result in 9,909 more jobs, the result of a 2.7% fall in employment deprivation with 22,647 people with increased income, the result of a 2.8% drop in income deprivation.

The report demonstrates the important role that buses have in helping to reduce social deprivation in the UK, where 1 in 4 people is at risk of social exclusion, and 1 in 4 people do not have access to a car.

It builds on existing research by Greener Journeys which shows that buses bring huge economic benefits to the UK. Some 3.5 million people in the UK travel to work by bus, and these commuters generate more than £64 billion worth of goods and services per year. Furthermore, proper investment in local bus infrastructure delivers vast rewards, with every £1 spent on local bus priority measures delivering up to £7 in economic benefit.

Among its recommendations, Greener Journeys is calling on Government to prioritise investment in buses and local bus infrastructure. It is also asking decision makers to consider the wider social benefits of projects when appraising transport schemes and investment cases.

Claire Haigh, Chief Executive of Greener Journeys, said “This vital new research demonstrates that bus travel doesn’t just benefit the economy, it can also help alleviate deprivation and improve people’s life chances. This new evidence shows that bus investment is not just a transport policy – it is a health policy, an education policy, a skills policy, a wellbeing policy, and a social cohesion policy. We urge Government to consider these findings when contemplating future investment in bus services. Bus investment can deliver truly inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”