Thousands of elderly and disabled people are being isolated as bus services are scrapped – because councils can no longer subsidise free fares.
Town Hall leaders report a 12% reduction in the past year as hundreds of routes are ditched or cut back.
Rural areas are hardest hit and councils warn things will only get worse without new government funding .
In the past financial year alone, overall mileage for council-supported bus services across England fell from 165 to 144 million miles.
The figures from the Local Government Association show the picture over the past decade is equally bleak.
In that time, subsidised services in rural areas have reduced by 40%, or 71 million bus miles (from 178 to 107 million) – and in urban areas by just over a quarter (51 down to 37 million).
LGA Transport spokesman Martin Tett says a council funding crisis means town halls must divert cash from other key services to meet a legal obligation to provide free off-peak travel for pensioners and the disabled.
He said: “These figures show how much pressure many local bus services are under, with councils forced by a lack of central government funding to cut discretionary services.
“In many cases, it is hitting rural communities hardest, leaving families isolated.”
Mr Tett is calling on the Government to commit to subsidies for the elderly and disabled people in the Autumn Statement.
He added: “Unless the Government commits to fully funding concessionary fares, elderly and disabled people will be left stranded with a free bus pass, but no local buses to travel on.”
He says councils have been legally forced to prop up the concessionary fares system for too long.
He added: “This is now impossible with councils struggling to protect vital services like adult social care, protecting children, filling potholes and collecting bins.”