Interactive tool: Is your London bus slower than it used to be?

Assessing the Changing Pace of London’s Buses: An Interactive Tool Reveals Slower Journeys Over the Past Decade

London’s iconic red buses are a familiar sight on the city’s streets, but recent analysis indicates that many of these routes are now taking longer to travel than they did ten years ago. A new interactive tool developed by The Londoner offers residents and commuters an insightful way to explore how bus speeds across Greater London have evolved over time.

A Stark Decline in Bus Speeds

Based on comprehensive data from Transport for London, an alarming statistic emerges: approximately 74% of the city’s active bus routes—out of a total of 748—have experienced a decline in average speed since 2015. This translates to 555 routes where passengers now encounter longer journey times, raising questions about urban traffic, infrastructure, and service efficiency.

Introducing the Bus Speed Interactive Tool

To make this data accessible and to foster transparency, The Londoner has launched an innovative online platform. This interactive tool allows users to examine specific routes, compare historical and current average speeds, and better understand the broader trends affecting bus travel times across the city.

Why It Matters

Longer bus journeys can impact commuters’ daily routines, increase congestion, and affect the overall efficiency of London’s public transportation network. Understanding these changes is vital for policymakers, transit agencies, and residents alike seeking to improve urban mobility and ensure reliable, timely bus services.

Explore the Data Yourself

For a hands-on experience, visit The Londoner’s Bus Speed Tool. This resource provides a visually engaging and user-friendly way to analyze how London’s bus network has changed over recent years. Whether you’re a daily commuter or simply interested in urban development, this tool offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of London’s public transit.

Learn More

Interested in how these changes might be addressed or what factors are contributing to slower bus speeds? Read more at The Londoner’s full analysis, and stay informed about ongoing efforts to improve transportation efficiency within the city.


Stay connected and informed about London’s transit developments by exploring this innovative tool and engaging with ongoing discussions about urban mobility.

One thought on “Interactive tool: Is your London bus slower than it used to be?

  1. Insight from a London Resident on Bus Speed Trends

    As someone who relies heavily on London’s bus network daily, I find this interactive tool incredibly valuable for understanding how our city’s mobility has evolved. The decline in bus speeds since 2015, impacting over three-quarters of routes, highlights ongoing challenges in managing urban traffic and infrastructure.

    In my experience, factors such as congestion, roadworks, and increased environmental measures (like low emission zones) may contribute to these slower journeys. It’s also worth considering how rising passenger numbers and changes in bus scheduling could influence overall efficiency.

    This data underscores the importance of holistic urban transportation planning. Perhaps integrating smarter traffic management, prioritizing bus lanes, and investing in infrastructure improvements can help reverse this trend. Engaging residents with transparent data, like through this tool, fosters a collaborative approach towards restoring efficient transit services.

    Looking forward, I hope policymakers prioritize innovative solutions such as adaptive routing or real-time traffic adjustments to enhance travel times, ensuring London’s buses remain a reliable pillar of our public transport system.

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