* Investment in clean, modern electric buses would help tackle congestion and air pollution
Reacting to the release of figures (1) which confirm the steady decline in bus use in England, Caroline Russell, Green Party transport spokesperson, said:
"On the day the government is being taken to court for failure to deliver clean air (2), it is sad to see the figures showing bus use is declining.
With most of the UK suffering dangerously polluted air, the government should be promoting and increasing our bus services not presiding over their decline.
"Wherever people live they can help reduce air pollution but only if it's safe to walk and cycle and there is a convenient public transport alternative to the car for local trips."
The number of local bus passenger journeys in England fell by 119 million or 2.6% to 4.53 billion in the year to end March 2016.
The figures also revealed that, between March 2011 and March 2016, bus fares rose on average by 3.8% - well above the average annual rate of inflation, which was 2.3%.
Councillor Martin Schmierer, leader of the Green Party group on Norwich City Council, said:
"It is no surprise that bus usage is dropping if fares keep going up so rapidly. The government and local authorities need to do more to promote public transport rather than allowing above-onflation price rises.
"The solution is clear: the government should subsidise bus journeys for all and their routes should be re-regulated, so that buses go where they are needed rather than simply where they are likely to make the most money.
"Investment in clean, modern electric buses would help tackle congestion and air pollution by making bus travel a practical and attractive option again."
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