Published: Saturday, 21st June, 2008 10:00
Fuel prices cutting congestion, but bus fare hikes loom
By Adam Hewitt and James Kell
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Traffic on the M4
DRIVERS in Berkshire are leaving their cars at home as the rising cost of fuel bites.
Figures from traffic watchdog Trafficmaster show that, so far this month, congestion on the M4 between London and the Severn Bridge is 12% down on June last year.
So far in 2008, monthly congestion figures have been down on the same month in 2007, bucking the usual trend for an increase.
Data manager at Trafficmaster Graham Smith said that this was a reflection of difficult economic circumstances including record fuel prices.
He said: “Usually we would see positive evidence of an increase in congestion, but it’s been declining over the last 12 months, some months by about 5% on last year, so June is exceptional in the sense that it’s down 12%.
“There are less heavy goods vehicles on the move because of the economic downturn.
“People are also making fewer leisure journeys, but first and foremost it’s because of fuel prices.”
Paul Watters, head of public affairs at the AA, said that drivers would also be monitoring their speed in a bid to save fuel. He said: “I think some people will be adjusting their speed to increase their fuel economy because you can get big savings from driving at 70mph instead of 80mph, sometimes as much as 5 miles per gallon.
“I’m not surprised that statistics show there is less traffic around.”
- MEANWHILE, soaring diesel costs have already forced fare rises on one Berkshire bus company.
Newbury Buses will increase fares from Monday and bosses from its parent company, Reading Buses, meet next Wednesday to decide whether to follow suit.
Diesel prices on Reading forecourts have jumped more than 30% since this time last year.
Last month Reading Buses’ chief executive James Freeman told the Chronicle: “If fuel prices continue to rise we will have to do something with our fares. It is a very uncomfortable climate and we are squeezing everything.”
Diesel prices have climbed still further since then, and Reading Buses spokeswoman Nikki Ball said on Tuesday: “We can’t speculate on what might or might not happen to fares until after this board meeting at the end of the month.”
Bus fares within urban Reading are £1.50 for an adult single and £2.90 for a return, or £3 for an all-day ticket. The buses on route 17 now run on bio-ethanol made from waste sugar beet rather than diesel, but Ms Ball said the network-wide fares structure meant that these buses would be unlikely to be left out of any future fares hike.
The bio-fuel costs less than 60p per litre, but the buses use 38% more of it per mile compared to diesel. Further diesel rises could see bio-ethanol become a much cheaper fuel, as well as being eco-friendly.
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