Brits Say Better Tech Would Get Them on Board with Bus Travel
With increased bus travel central to the UK hitting its Net Zero targets, a new report has revealed that 69% of Brits said better tech would make them more likely to take the bus. The Getronics Bus Trust Tracker is based on independent research conducted among 2,500 UK residents and explores why, despite major investment in greener fleets, millions of seats on UK buses are still going empty. The report reveals that even amongst those with access to local bus routes, 54% of Brits take the bus less than once a week, 1 in 4 (28%) travel by bus once every six months or less and nearly 1 in 5 (17%) never take the bus at all.
The research also shows the frequency of passenger journeys and found significant variation across the country, even for those with access to local routes. Those in Greater London average 142 trips a year, whilst in Wales and the South East, the norm is just 49 annually. Laurence Kresnyak, UK travel & transport sector lead at Getronics, explains:
"Nearly half of Brits with access to local routes don't use the bus even once a week, often opting for less sustainable modes of transport. That's a lot of empty seats and an even bigger opportunity for operators. When we look at the three biggest barriers to bus usage, every single one could be solved with tech innovation."
Brits say delayed buses (30%), long journey times (30%) and overcrowded buses (24%) are the main reasons they choose not to travel by bus. The report also reveals the top three things Brits agreed would make them more likely to take the bus:
- Access to accurate live information about bus routes (55%)
- The ability to check bus occupancy levels in advance (53%)
- Get more regular updates on fleet service with better in-fleet communication (52%)
Laurence continues: "We work with transport operators every day, so we know the industry is undergoing major changes. However, there is still a significant gap between the digital experience passengers have in other parts of their lives and the one they find while travelling by bus.
"As it stands there are simply not enough people using the bus to hit the UK's Net Zero targets. Our data shows to get people using the bus more, they need a service they can rely on. Bus operators need to focus on utilising technology to deliver the connected and reliable travel experience passengers demand."
Getronics specialises in building resilient, industry-leading IT systems in the travel, transport and logistics sectors, and works with transport operators in the UK and internationally to streamline services and boost passenger numbers.
Laurence concludes: "The destination here is clear: better passenger experience, enabled by cutting-edge technology, will mean fuller buses and a more sustainable transport future."
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