London's Bus Ridership: A New Plan to Boost Rides

0:00It's March 31st. Welcome to Vancouver News today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. London's Transit Commission just approved a plan to tackle dropping bus ridership, voting 3-2 for a report on local rebound strategies by June. Ridership fell from 19.23 million trips in 2024 to 17.46 million last year. A drop of 1.77 million rides mostly blamed on fewer international students at Fanshawe College and Western University. Officials like Chair Skither Frankie call it a temporary blip from policy changes, saying fewer riders could mean better service quality without the old. Overcrouting issues, while per capita rides keep sliding from 41.8 in 2023 to 38.2 now. Mayor Josh Morgan highlighted big investments, adding 18,000 conventional transit hours and 10,000 para transit hours plus a new tax. Ridership plan for more service, with funds set to shift as the bus rapid transit system

1:01rolls out. That BRT kicks off with the East London link in late 2027, then Wellington Gateway in 2028, sparking hopes for A. Ridership surge, though Commissioner Trossout pushes for quicker fixes amid high gas prices to pull in new users right away.