Bus services across much of Britain are in decline because they are expensive, slow, unreliable, uncomfortable and infrequent.

But in Brighton and Hove bus travel is rising by five per cent a year because the city has one of the best networks in the country.

The environmental group Transport 2000 has, with good reason, singled out services provided by Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company for their excellence.

Why are they so good? One reason is simplicity. Every adult journey costs £1 and the main routes are so frequent during the day there is no need for a timetable.

Most buses are adapted to meet the needs of disabled people and an electronic indicator system at main stops tells people how long they will have to wait.

But the main reason for it is a partnership with the city council that has seen bus lanes provided in the central corridor from Western Road to London Road.

Many other towns in Sussex and elsewhere could learn from what Brighton and Hove has done. Worthing and Hastings in particular need better bus travel.

But Brighton and Hove must not be complacent. The main problem still faced by the company is congestion and more measures are needed to ensure buses get through on time.

Good bus services help everyone. The more people that travel by bus, and it's 30 million a year in Brighton and Hove, the freer the roads are for them and everyone else.