In the first part of a two-part feature, Jonathan Welch speaks to the team behind LibertyBus, which operates bus services on the island of Jersey
In common with many of the islands that lay around the shores of Great Britain and Ireland, the Bailiwick of Jersey is not a location that often features in the pages of CBW, but as with all inhabited islands, transport is an important part of everyday life and one which is just as vital. Located around 14 miles from the northern shore of France alongside its smaller neighbours Guernsey and Sark and divided into 12 parishes, the island has vowed to tackle the climate emergency and reduce dependence on the private car.
It covers an area of 46.2 square miles, and has long been a destination in demand. Reflecting its popularity, limited space and restricted housing supply, figures show that the island’s average house price is higher than that in London, and more than double the UK average. It is therefore no surprise to see 2023 figures from Statistics Jersey which tell us that around 52% of people on the island who commuted to work travelled by car. The island’s 2021 census showed that there were 68,219 cars and vans available for use by private households on the island, or 1.53 cars per head of population. The number was up slightly from the previous census in 2011 and higher than the equivalent figure for England (1.24). At the time of the island’s 2021 census, it was found that one in six private households did not own or have access to a car or van, that figure being lower than in England, and in the island’s main settlement, St Helier, some 30% of households did not have a car and van; however in rural parishes around one in four private households had three or more vehicles. Against that backdrop, it’s interesting to see that 29% of respondents said that they walked to work, whilst cycling and bus use were both at 5%. The same source also notes little change to travel patterns in recent years.
What does all that matter, you might ask? As with any bus service, it’s important to understand the local area, the people you’re serving and their needs, although in Jersey’s case, the island’s bus service also caters for the huge number of incoming tourists every year, many of whom rely on it to facilitate their travels to the Bailiwick’s many attractions.
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