Councils and private contractors have blamed gridlocked roads and a fall in passengers heading into high streets for running fewer buses on certain routes.
But politicians and businesses say this short-sighted approach has created a “vicious circle” of cutbacks – as fewer buses bring people into shopping areas, more retailers will close.
That will reduce passenger numbers as fewer shoppers head to the struggling high street.
The latest government figures for public transport have revealed a huge fall in the number of bus journeys taken nationwide in less than a decade.
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The problem is worst in the North and the Midlands. Hull, one of the most badly affected cities, saw more than four million fewer passenger journeys compared to eight years ago.
There were 19 million fewer bus journeys taken in Greater Manchester and 15 million less in Tyne & Wear during the same period.
The West Midlands saw 50 million fewer journeys taken and West Yorkshire 18 million less compared with 2009/10.
Former business secretary and Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable believes this situation is making the high street crisis worse.
Around 50,000 retail jobs have been lost since January, with names such as Toys R Us, Maplin, Poundworld and Calvetron going bust.
High street has 'not kept up with the times' claims expert
Marks & Spencer, Mothercare and House of Fraser are among those needing major restructuring.
Mr Cable said the latest bus figures revealed “part of a vicious circle that is devastating the high street.
With footfall down and internet giants paying little to no tax, fewer people visit the high street.
“Then routes and journeys are cut, meaning rural and small communities dependent on buses for public transport become more and more isolated.”
House of Fraser to close over half its stores
A declining bus service is increasingly frustrating for small business owners. They rely on a high consumer footfall, so good public transport links and a reliable and well-maintained road network is vital.
Martin McTague, policy chairman at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “A declining bus service is increasingly frustrating for small business owners.
They rely on a high consumer footfall, so good public transport links and a reliable and wellmaintained road network is vital.
“Aside from getting potential customers into town centres so they can spend their cash on the goods and services of small high street retail and hospitality firms, all businesses rely on decent public transport links for their staff too.”
In Hull, a total of 4.6 million fewer journeys took place last year than in 2010.
The number of journeys fell from 26.1 million in 2009/10 to 21.5 million in 2016/2017 – a drop of almost 18 per cent in less than a decade.
Stagecoach, which runs many of Hull’s routes, has blamed gridlocked roads for the fall in bus use.
Campaigners have also hit out at falling spend on buses. The Campaign for Better Transport says that subsidies for buses fell by £20.5million last year alone.
An estimated 3,000 routes have been axed or cut back in England and Wales in the past eight years and it is thought that the UK’s bus network has shrunk to a level last seen in the 1980s.
However the Government says it provides £250million a year to support buses and £1billion for free travel for disabled and older people.
Pensioners in South Derbyshire recently warned that their “lifeline” would be cut off if a key service was scrapped.
Experts believe the lack of a bus route can have a huge impact on communities.
As well as making it harder to get into town centres, it can make it more difficult to get to a job, or take one that requires working outside 9am to 5pm; access education and even socialise.
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Local Authority Bus journeys fall from 2009 to 2017 (millions)
North East 31.5
North West 55.4
Yorkshire/Humber 42.7
East Midlands 22.1
West Midlands 68
East of England 0.3
London 2.1
South East 24.2
South West 18.5
ENGLAND TOTAL 175.2