Who remembers the TV series On the Buses? Set in London it was hugely popular when I was growing up in the 70s. Well, were we to film what’s been happening on the buses, in 2022, Off The Buses would unfortunately be a better title.

Because while most people who used to travel by bus pre-pandemic are using buses again, only three-quarters of journeys are being made. The reason? Because more and more people are working at home and more and more of everyday life - think GP appointments or shopping for groceries - can be done online. Life’s got much more convenient, you might say.

The big issue with fewer journeys is that there’s less money coming in from bus fares. Crucially, that means less money to invest in our network which should mean better buses for all. So, if you don’t currently use buses - please, please, give it a go.

There are many reasons you should, because not only are many buses modern and convenient - think our new “Tap On Tap Off” system – overall they’re now cheaper too. Working with commercial operators, I’m proud we’ve managed to reduce single fares for adults and kids alike. A twelve-mile single journey outside of Bristol and Bath, for example, will drop from £6.50 to £3.70 and a return from £7.50 to £5, and it’s just £1 for children. These overall price reductions will help many with the cost-of-living crisis.

If you’re already a bus user, you’ve likely faced some issues recently. When First announced there would be more cuts last month, I got the West of England Authority to throw the kitchen sink at finding a solution. I’m proud we’ve managed to save more than half of threatened bus routes including the 178 and 22.

One challenge meaning we couldn’t save even more buses is the severe bus driver shortage. Sadly, I can’t magic up the one hundred and fifty drivers we need overnight. But I’m working on it, investing in local recruitment and training with the bus companies. So, do you or someone you know fancy a career change? Then why not become a bus driver? It is now better paid than ever and your community needs your skills to get vital buses moving.

Next, I’m backing measures to improve passenger information. There’s nothing worse than arriving at the bus stop not knowing when the next bus is due to arrive. I’ve also made £5 million available for better bus stops – so do get in touch with your local Councillor to make sure this is spent speedily.

Buses really matter to the environment. They’re vital to help us meet our ambitious 2030 net-zero targets as we have to get people using cars less. So buses must become quicker, cheaper, greener and more reliable. I need your help to achieve this. Please help me create that virtuous cycle of more bus use, more fare income and better buses in future.

Let’s turn off the buses, to on the buses.