Statement: Bus passenger numbers in Wales

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said:

“It is disappointing to see older people being ‘blamed’ for the slow recovery of bus passenger numbers in Wales since the pandemic compared with other parts of the UK, as reported yesterday.

“It has been suggested that a key reason for the drop in the number of older people using bus services is because people now using online services, which means they ‘don’t need to go out as much’.

“In my view, however, this fails to recognise the wider issues that often prevent older people from being able to use bus services.

“Older people often tell me that they would like to use buses more frequently to get out and about and do the things that matter to them, but that this is often not possible due to the availability and reliability of these services.

“One comment that has stuck with me sums up the situation faced by many older people across Wales – ‘I have a bus pass but no bus’.

“Many older people have also told me they would like to give up using their cars, but that this is simply not possible due to the lack of bus services available. Other issues raised with me include a lack of integration and connectivity with other services, as well as concerns about safety when using public transport.

“As the new Bus Bill for Wales progresses, it is crucial that the issues and barriers faced by older people are properly understood and responded to so that the changes implemented deliver services that will meet older people’s needs.”