Drivers will not ditch their cars to catch buses until the services become “cheaper and more convenient”, a councillor has warned.

The “reliability” of services run by private operators has also been called into question as the number of bus users in Hertfordshire continues to flag.

Total bus passenger journeys decreased from around 36 million in 2016/17 to around 27 million over the following three years, according to Department for Transport figures.

It is understood the latest numbers are also even lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Read more: Complaints after Arriva makes changes to bus network in Watford area

Watford Observer: Credit: Simon JacobsCredit: Simon Jacobs

Stephen Giles-Medhurst, the opposition member for highways and transport at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “Passenger numbers haven’t rebounded even to pre-Covid levels because of the bus passenger transport system we have outside London.

“We have services run by private operators who are removing, rerouting, and renumbering services. People won’t use buses unless they know it's reliable and that it’s cheaper to use than their own private cars.”

The Liberal Democrat member added: “The bottom line is it needs more central Government investment and strategic thinking. We’d like to see a transport authority that has control over rail and bus services in Hertfordshire.”

Read more: Carousel to axe part of 103 Wycombe to Watford bus route

Watford Observer: Buses in Watford High Street Credit: Holly CantBuses in Watford High Street Credit: Holly Cant (Image: Holly Cant)

The council member responsible for highways and transport in Hertfordshire, Phil Bibby, says he is “keen to reverse” the trend of falling passengers but says what’s happening in Hertfordshire “reflects bus journey patterns made nationally”.

He said council officers have been working on a bus service improvement plan for Hertfordshire which is part of a national initiative to “drastically” improve services. The hope is to receive Government funding to implement the plan.

The councillor said: “The bus service improvement plan aims to increase patronage through more frequent bus services, more connected bus services, a lower emission bus network, a higher quality of passenger experience, simpler ticketing and investment in bus infrastructure on the highways network.”

Watford Observer: HertsLynx, operating in North Herts, is like the Arriva Click bus service introduced by Watford Borough CouncilHertsLynx, operating in North Herts, is like the Arriva Click bus service introduced by Watford Borough Council (Image: Watford Borough Council)

The Conservative politician added the council has had recent success with bids to the Department for Transport for 27 zero emission buses – in Stevenage - and the Rural Mobility Fund, which led to the introduction of HertsLynx in the north of the county.