Jersey minister wants comprehensive bus network

Jersey's transport minister says there will be a bus within easy reach of everyone when the new service launches.

Deputy Kevin Lewis was responding to census figures that showed 4% of people were using the bus to get to work.

He said when the new service launches in January it will be more comprehensive and commuter friendly.

CT Plus is the preferred bidder to take over from Connex, which has run Jersey's bus service for the past ten years.

Deputy Lewis said: "All being well the bus service will be increased enormously next year which should serve all points of the island.

"If you look at the statistics it is the East and West of the island, that has the most bus use because they have the best service."

The percentage of people using the bus to get to work is the same as it was when the census was last taken in 2002.

The figures also showed more than half of working adults travelled to work by private car, a quarter walked and fewer than 4% cycled.

There were 70,429 vehicles on Jersey's roads in 2011 owned by private households, according to the latest census figures.

That included 62,456 cars and vans, which with a population of 97,857 is the equivalent of 651 private vehicles per 1,000 people.

Duncan Gibault, from the statistics unit, said 41% of homes had one vehicle and 44% owned two or more.
(from BBC)