Local control of integrated bus services is vital in promoting
public transport use and tackling the climate crisis, Scottish
Labour has said.
The party has said that de-regulation of bus services has failed
the people of Scotland and only local control of services can
ensure greater use of public transport.
In the Strathclyde area, Labour councillors have pledged to use
bring Strathclyde’s bus network under public control in a radical
bid to protect bus services and fight the climate crisis.
The deregulated market has forced bus services into decline with:
- Plummeting passenger numbers, down by 79 million since 2007
in Strathclyde and the South West
- 48 million vehicle kilometres stripped out of the bus network
in Strathclyde and the South West
- Bus fares up by a fifth across Scotland in the past five
years alone.
Today Scottish Labour Leader joined senior councillor Alan
Moir in COP26 host city Glasgow to support Labour councillors
plans for a publicly-controlled bus network. He called for
transformational change to help travellers pick the greener, more
affordable bus services over car use.
Scottish Labour Leader said: “We cannot
achieve net zero with rocketing fares on public transport and bus
services in decline. It is time for transformational change and
that is exactly what Labour’s local leaders in Strathclyde are
promising.
“To help people choose the bus, Labour Councils will use new
Transport Act powers to bring Strathclyde’s bus network under
democratic control. By putting passengers before profit, we
believe we can secure better, more affordable services for
Greater Glasgow and the West.
“Under the SNP, 48 million vehicle kilometres have been stripped
out of the bus network right across in Strathclyde and the South
West of Scotland. Meanwhile fares have gone up by a fifth in five
years. That is simply not sustainable. The broken bus market has
failed passengers and it’s got to be scrapped.”
Councillor Alan Moir said: “What COP has shown
is just how far behind our European neighbours Glasgow and
Strathclyde as a whole has fallen. Seamless, integrated public
transport is taken for granted in cities across Europe and around
the world but remains aspirational for passengers here.
Smartcards shouldn’t just be for COP, they should make travel
easier and more affordable all year round.
“Labour believe councils working together can secure better bus
services for the city and the surrounding region. Public control
of the bus network puts councils and communities in the driving
seat, not the big bus companies.
“It is time to give public transport bodies like SPT real teeth.
Give local government the power, the budget and the backing to
take control of bus services and let us deliver a stronger
network for our passengers. COP should inspire us to put
passengers before profit and to transform public
transport.”
ENDS
Note to editors:
Total bus passenger journeys in Strathclyde and the South West
down by 79 million Chapter 2: Bus and Coach
Travel (transport.gov.scot) Chapter 2: Bus and Coach
Travel (transport.gov.scot)
Vehicle kilometres in Strathclyde and the South West down by 48
million since 2007 Chapter 2: Bus and Coach
Travel (transport.gov.scot) Chapter 2: Bus and Coach
Travel (transport.gov.scot)
Average fare prices in Scotland up by a fifth in five
years Chapter 2: Bus and Coach
Travel (transport.gov.scot)
