Are countryside buses coming back into business?
Summary
Local councils in England are increasing financial support for rural bus services, including new on-demand bus options that passengers can book when needed. Wiltshire Connect is one such service using minibuses that adapt routes based on passenger needs, helping people in rural areas travel more flexibly and affordably.Key Facts
- Council support for local buses in England, excluding London, is 17% of bus miles traveled, higher than the 13% pre-pandemic low in 2019-20.
- Bus journeys per person have decreased from 88 trips in 2010 to 63 trips in 2024-25.
- Rural areas provide more council support for buses than urban areas.
- Demand responsive transport (DRT) lets passengers book flexible bus routes that change according to travel requests.
- The UK government gave £20 million in 2021 to 15 local councils to try DRT through the Rural Mobility Fund.
- Wiltshire Connect started in 2023 with 13 minibuses over three zones and has made 250,000 journeys so far.
- People book the service via app or phone, paying the same fare as regular buses.
- DRT users include both older people and more younger users, aiming to encourage public transport habits long-term.
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