Unreliable and expensive or the only way to travel? Have your say on Greater Manchester's buses in our new survey

They're used by millions of people across the country every day and are described by Boris Johnson as being key to his 'levelling up' vision to spread opportunity around the country.

But in Greater Manchester and around the North of England, local bus services face an uncertain future amid declining passenger numbers, a driver shortage and fears the industry could fall off a financial cliff.

Transport bosses across the country fear vital bus routes could be cut when emergency Covid funding runs out at the end of March, with operators facing a drop in revenue as passenger numbers are yet to return to their pre-pandemic levels.

That's why The Northern Agenda political newsletter is carrying out a survey on the state of bus services in Greater Manchester and further afield. We're building up a picture of how often people use local buses, what might tempt them back and whether they believe fundamental reform is needed to the system.

Have your say in The Northern Agenda's Big Bus Survey:

This week Greater Manchester's Andy Burnham joined with other Labour metro mayors in warning that failing to continue subsiding services risked causing lasting damage to communities still recovering from the pandemic.

The M.E.N. reported last month that although starting to improve, passenger numbers are still only a fraction of pre-covid levels, while staff absence and a general shortage of drivers nationwide are also affecting services. Bus operators and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have received more than £100m from the Government in emergency support since the pandemic began. In a report presented to GMCA in October, it shows that TfGM has passed on an average of £3m a month to operators using funds provided by the