Select a region
The number of people using Guernsey's bus service has increased, with just under two million bus journeys being taken by people during 2018, which the States said was an increase of 2.8% on the previous year.
That means 2018 marked the fifth consecutive annual rise in the number of people using the public bus service, with 50,220 more trips just last year alone.
On the bus survice's different routes, there has been modest growth experienced across the different types, with the number of fare paying passengers rising by 42,705 (3.2%), student users up by 5,753 (3.1%) and concessions (OAPs) up by 3,944 (1.6%).
President of Environment & Infrastructure, Deputy Barry Brehaut, said: "This is the fifth consecutive annual increase recorded on the public bus service and represents a total annual increase in passenger journeys of 482,796 (almost half a million) additional passenger journeys since 2013.
"This represents an impressive compound annual growth rate of 6.3% over this period. The importance of providing a reliable, frequent and timely service is recognised as being an essential factor in gaining public confidence in the service. Together with the recent acquisition of 34 new ultra-low emission diesel buses, the provision of improved passenger facilities at the bus terminus and at various other locations around the Island, the bus service is looking to continue attracting passenger growth in 2019 and beyond."
Pictured: One of Guernsey's bus fleet.
Passenger journeys in all four quarters of 2018 were the highest recorded since records in the current format were introduced.
Director of Traffic and Highway Services, Karl Guille, said: “Bus passenger journeys in the summer months can be heavily influenced by fluctuations in the numbers of tourists and, in particular, cruise ship passengers visiting the island. In August of this year monthly passenger journeys peaked at 209,130 easily surpassing last year’s record monthly total for August of 203,997 passenger journeys.
“However, it is in the ‘shoulder’ months where the most passenger growth has been witnessed with passenger journeys in January, February, November and December 2018 rising by a combined average of 4.8%. This is particularly encouraging as passenger journeys in these core winter months are largely undertaken by the resident population.”
As far as fare paying services go, the Nightowl services operated on three routes on Friday and Saturday evenings continue to be popular with an additional 3,355 passengers using the service in 2018 representing a growth rate of 15%.
The number of fare paying passengers using Smart Card products increased by 72,832 (13%) in 2018 with the corresponding number of people paying by cash reducing by 30,127 (4%).
Pictured top: Deputy Barry Brehaut.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.