New data shows Richmond has suffered the steepest drop in bus speeds across London
The question is why and what can be done about it? Story 106
According to new analysis published today by The Londoner, buses in the borough have slowed more than anywhere else in the capital.
Over the past decade, the average bus speed in Richmond has dropped from 11.1 miles per hour in 2015 to just 10.1 mph in 2025. An 8.8 percent decline.
This is based on over 10 years of bus data from Transport for London (TfL).
In practical terms, it’s the difference between a seven-minute hop from Kew Gardens to Richmond station and a 10-minute trundle.

This isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s a policy failure.
Buses are supposed to be the backbone of London’s transition to cleaner, more efficient transport. They’re central to the Mayor’s vision of getting people out of cars and into sustainable alternatives.
But that vision only works if the buses do.
In 2022, TfL's Bus Action Plan put it plainly,
There has been a clear correlation between declining bus demand and deteriorating average bus speeds. Many of these journeys will instead be made by car or not be made at all, both bad outcomes for local economies.
They estimate that for every 10% increase in journey time, there’s a corresponding 6% drop in passengers. In other words, when buses get slower, people stop using them.
The Londoner’s interactive tool is available here.
There will be more on this story soon.