Trevor Lunn MLA said: “I am very concerned that 2.5m fewer journeys were made on Translink in 2009-10 compared to the previous year. Government and Translink must work together to promote more effectively the use of public transport here.
“We need to do far more to encourage more people to leave the car at home and take the bus or the train.
“Potential measures to increase the use of public transport could include better deals for consumers or a stronger, more concentrated advertising campaign.
“I know that much work has gone into trying to get more people onto public transport but these figures are deeply disappointing and we need to redouble our efforts here.
“I believe that if we provide more incentives like cheaper deals for passengers we can really make a positive difference. The benefits of getting more people to use public transport are very clear – protecting our environment, reducing traffic congestion and enabling the growth of our public transport network.”
ENDS