Transport bosses say give buses more space on the roads

Road congestion is slowing down buses and costing the economy, transport bosses have said.

They called for more space to allow buses to run freely and speed up journeys.

At an event at the SNP Conference in Aberdeen, organised by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, the benefit of public transport to the wider society was discussed.

Valerie Davidson, chief executive of SPT, said: “The cost to the economy from congestion is huge. It’s in the billions if we don’t do something.

She said it was £2.3bn in the Glasgow region. Car has an important place but we need to invest in public transport.”

She added that for every hour you are sitting in congestion, the impact on the economy is £9.12.

Ms Davidson said: “We need to free up road space.

“Road space is finite and we are not going to please everybody.”

Glasgow’s biggest bus operator highlighted the impact of road congestion on passengers.

Duncan Cameron, managing Director of First Bus, said: “Bus networks across the UK are more inefficient than they should be.

“Bus journeys have reduced over time.

“If the bus is slower, we need more buses and drivers to deliver the service.”

He said a change in road space would lead to better public transport.

Jamie Ross, director of transport at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said there was a discrepancy in governance between rail and bus and the level of control does not match the volume of users.

He noted more people made trips by bus than rail but rail is under public control, while bus is not.

He said: “The time is right for proper public control of bus networks to provide coherent governance. The challenge will be around funding.”

SPT is moving forward with plans for a franchising model, where it would set the routes, timetables and fare structure and invite operators to bid for contracts.

Many public transport campaigners have called for it while McGill’s Buses owners have been outspoken in their opposition to it, citing it will come at a huge cost to the public purse.

First Bus said it was willing to work in partnership with local authorities.

Duncan Cameron, of First Bus, said: “We are agnostic in terms of operating models.

“We work in partnerships. In Glasgow, we're working closely with the city council, looking at how we can speed up bus journeys with the reopening of Argyle Street.

“We are in franchises in Manchester and London.

“Our commitment is to work in partnership, whatever the operating model.”