Local bus usage figures for 15/16 published

[knutstransport]

RE: Local bus usage figures for 15/16 published

(26/06/2017 07:38)Gateacre Wrote:  Regarding the figures quoted for Bus Usuage:
Several forms of multi-journey tickets are still paper versions which are shown to the driver upon entry.
Are these boardings actually recorded? I think many are not and therefore usuage could well be under-stated.

Does anyone have further information on this possible recording error?

I'm not sure exactly how it works but there will likely be some estimation used. For rail usage passenger numbers are estimated on ticket sales so any fare evaders or those not given the opportunity to buy a ticket aren't counted. There were also some quite significant changes to usage at Manchester Stations recorded recently due to it being found that the method of recording journeys made on tickets like Wayfarer weren't that accurate and the number of passengers travelling to Piccadilly on Manchester STNs tickets was overestimated, while Oxford Road was underestimated. The same applied in Liverpool with an over estimation for Lime Street and an underestimation for Central.

Some operators do record passengers showing already purchased day tickets by the driver pressing a button on the machine when one is shown. However, that could mean one passenger making a return journey from A to B gets recorded as making 2 journeys, while another who breaks their return journey gets recorded as making 3.