The average satisfaction score given by passengers for the bus journey just completed was 79 out of 100 in England, 82 in Metropolitan areas and 81 in Shire areas.
In London, where the survey takes place continuously and the bus passengers are younger and have higher expectations, the average score was 75 out of 100. This score was up by two points compared with one year ago. Elsewhere the average satisfaction score increased by one point compared with one year ago.
The highest satisfaction rating in London was for on-bus safety and security and bus crew behaviour, with an average rating of 83 out of 100. In Metropolitan and Shire areas passengers were also most satisfied with these aspects and additionally with the time taken on the journey.
Satisfaction with information at the bus stop averaged 60 for England compared with 71 in London. The England rating was one point higher than one year ago.
Satisfaction with bus service reliability averaged 63 out of 100 in London, 62 for Shire areas and 61 for Metropolitan areas, and 62 for England as a whole. All except Shire areas were down by one point compared with one year ago.
The average age of the bus fleet fell to 8.4 years at the end of December 2001, down from 8.5 the previous quarter.
The bus service reliability survey (lost service mileage) found that 1.7 per cent of scheduled local bus mileage in England was lost owing to factors within an operator’s control, 42 per cent of the lost mileage was because of staffing problems. In London, 3.9 per cent of scheduled mileage was lost, compared with 1.2 per cent outside London. Mileage lost in London has fallen by 1.4 percentage points compared with the same time last year, leading to a 15 per cent fall in lost mileage for England as a whole. Fewer staffing problems were the main contributory factor in the improvement. In addition to staffing, mechanical problems and traffic congestion were the most significant factors affecting bus service reliability.
