London buses travel at an average of just 7.1mph – no faster than an average person jogging, new data has suggested. However, a 10% increase in bus speeds across London could save bus operators around £214 million a year.

Figures published by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), and shared exclusively with The Standard, suggest bus speeds in the capital are falling behind, running 44% slower than other English metropolitan areas and 24% slower than other urban areas. Congestion, roadworks, 20mph speed limits, and the expansion of cycle lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), have all been blamed for the decline.

The findings have renewed calls for investment in the capital’s bus network, with the CPT arguing that faster services could free up millions of pounds for Transport for London (TfL) and dramatically improve daily journeys for commuters.

Graham Vidler, CEO of CPT, said:

“London’s buses are the workhorses of the capital, carrying millions of people every day, but they are being held back by worsening congestion and inconsistent road management.

“When buses are averaging little more than walking pace in some parts of the city, it is passengers, businesses and the wider economy that lose out.”

Slow buses are effectively expensive buses, as the longer a service takes to complete a route, the more buses, drivers, fuel, maintenance, depot space and staff are needed to maintain the same timetable.

The CPT estimates that improving bus speeds could generate an additional £3.1 billion in economic benefits for London, which is equivalent to £838 per household.

“Relatively straightforward measures such as stronger bus priority and better co-ordination of roadworks could make a transformational difference,” Mr Vidler added.

(Picture: Paul Hutton/Highways News)