The government hopes a new report into the social impacts of public transport will open people's eyes about just how beneficial bus services can be.

Recent figures released by the Department for Transport showed that bus usage fell by 1.3 per cent across the UK in the 12 months to March 2013 and this is obviously not what the authorities want to see.

With money being poured into a range of schemes - such as the New Bus for London venture - it is easy to see why undersecretary of state for transport Norman Baker is so keen to encourage more people to use public services.

The government commissioned Mott MacDonald, alongside the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds and Accent Marketing and Research to carry out the study into the social benefits of buses back in January 2012 and the results are now being published.

Mr Baker remarked: "There is a large body of evidence on the types of social benefits that public transport generates, but up to now very little evidence which quantifies and monetises these impacts."