Brazilian public transport systems are generally composed of trunk-feeder lines that are served by buses, even in cities with a metro system. However, an unprecedented reduction in demand is occurring in the last years, the causes of which are not yet clear. This paper aims to analyse the factors influencing this reduction in the demand for public transport. The data were taken from urban bus transportation systems in nine Brazilian cities between 2007 and 2017. The results highlight a relation among public transport and the characteristics of the city, and the strong influence of economic factors on the reduction in usage. Cities with similar characteristics could inspire each other rather than attempting to replicate solutions from larger cities. Finally, investment in strategies to prioritise public transport has the potential to attract more passengers, since the use of the car and/or the motorcycle is shown to have influenced the reduced use of public transportation.