Manchester’s Vantage Busway service successful in reducing cars on the road

An annual survey of First Manchester busway customers has found that now only 20 per cent of passengers are driving to the bus stop, with over 50 per cent opting to walk to and from their local Vantage service.

Following a survey of more than 3,000 customers, the number of passengers that drive to the bus stop is decreasing year-on-year; helping to reduce the number of cars on the road.

Over 70 per cent of users confirmed it takes less than 10 minutes to walk to their destination once they’ve departed from the bus.

Councillor Mark Aldred, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “Buses have always been – and will continue to be – the backbone of our public transport network, accounting for three in every four journeys made. A double decker is capable of taking dozens of cars off the road and bus services have never been more important as we look to tackle two of the most pressing issues facing us today: congestion and air quality.

“The absolute success of the Vantage bus service reinforces the value of our investment in the Bus Priority Package and I’m delighted to see such positive results. If more people are encouraged to leave their cars at home and use our transport networks – and have a good experience doing so – then we can really help to improve air quality and, in turn, people’s health.” 

Overall satisfaction with the Vantage Busway service continues to be high at 92 per cent, which is significantly higher than other local services. First Manchester is continuing to support the service by creating a video demonstrating the accessibility of the bus for passengers with reduced mobility. Customers can experience an interactive virtual tour of the bus and bus stops along the route, as well as witness the boarding and travelling procedures. This aims to make travelling easier and reduce anxiety for new customers.

Ian Humphreys, Managing Director for First Manchester, said: “It’s pleasing to see that the Vantage service is continuing to grow in popularity and that more customers are opting to leave their cars at home and travel by environmentally friendly means.

“Local authorities and bus operators working together can positively impact congestion and air quality, provide more services, deliver patronage growth and better support local economies. With this week being ‘Catch the Bus Week’ we hope that customers continue to support the Vantage service and that we can encourage more car users to consider leaving the car at home and switch at least one journey a week to a bus trip.”