Bus patronage in the 12 months from April 2004 to March 2005 shows the total number of single passenger journeys as 35.2 million.

Councillor Craig Turton, deputy chair of Brighton & Hove’s environment committee commented: “The increase underlines the strong partnership forged with Brighton & Hove Buses. Whilst some of the increase may have been existing passengers making more journeys, it is also fairly certain that much of the increase is down to new passengers, many of whom would previously have used a car.”

One spin-off of extra passengers is an increase in bus services. The number 81, for example, has been increased to five an hour (from four), servicing Elm Grove/Queens Park/Hanover.

Roger French, managing director of Brighton & Hove Bus Company, said, “We are increasing frequencies to encourage more bus use. One of the reasons bus travel is popular in the city is that we have worked with the council to improve reliability and the quality of information available to the public.”

Details of when and where buses are running are available on ‘real-time’ information boards at bus stops and on Brighton & Hove City Council’s travel website: www.citytransport.org.uk