Bus operators in BCP respond to cost of fuel crisis

As petrol prices continue to hit record highs across the country, Morebus says its passenger numbers across the BCP region have slowly begun to increase and have also cut their weekly ticket costs to encourage more travellers.

Andrew Wickham, Morebus managing director, said: “Passenger numbers have slowly increased over the last few months, as the recovery from the pandemic continues – although we have still not reached pre-covid levels.”

When asked by the Echo whether the fuel crisis could be behind the rise in passenger numbers, Mr Wickham said: “It’s difficult to attribute any increase specifically to the higher cost of motoring – but it’s reasonable to assume that it’s a factor. Its effect, though, will be tempered by the higher cost of living – which will act to reduce the number of trips people make generally, regardless of mode.

Morebus managing director Andrew Wickham

“When people do wish to travel, we urge them to leave their cars at home and take the bus. Aside from the positive effect it will have on their pockets, one double decker bus has the potential to take 75 cars off the road – helping to tackle congestion and environmental issues across the region.”

However, fellow operator Yellow Buses has not reported any increase and suggested people are travelling less in response to fuel costs.

Commercial director Simon Newport told the Echo: “Generally for us our situation is unchanged, we are still tracking 60 to 70 per cent of pre-pandemic patronage levels. We simply need more people to come back to the bus.

“We have not seen any increase in passengers following the rise in fuel costs. We think that because so many people can work from home now, they have just changed the way they work. For example, rather than going into work five days they are now doing three days and saving the fuel that way.

Yellow Buses

“So, I am afraid it continues not to be an easy time for transport operators.”

The new initiative by Morebus is to offer customers the chance to try its services for half the cost of regular weekly app tickets.

Customers using the Morebus app for the first time can travel in any zone as often as they like for their first week with 50 per cent off standard seven-day tickets, by using the discount code FUELJUNE22.