Our bus priority project ‘Life in the Bus Lane’ is officially underway, and we are excited to be out and about across cities in Scotland throughout November and December.
We’re hitting the streets to engage with both current bus users and non-users, gathering valuable insights on their experiences with bus travel and discussing how enhanced bus priority measures can make a positive impact on journeys.
First stop, Buchanan Street bus station
Our first event took place at Buchanan Street bus station in Glasgow, where we spoke directly with a diverse range of people—from daily commuters to those who rarely use the bus. We wanted to hear firsthand about their experiences: what works, what doesn’t, and what could make bus travel better for everyone, no matter their age or lifestyle. We also engaged with non-bus users to understand the barriers that keep them off public transport.
The goal of these events is to gather real-world insights on how bus priority measures—such as dedicated lanes, priority signals, and bus gates—can improve travel times and make our bus services more efficient and appealing.
Upcoming events
We will be hosting events in various cities – from Fife to Inverness, so keep an eye out for us in your area! More events to be announced.
Area | Date | Time | Location |
Glasgow | Fri 8 November | 08:30 – 16:30 | Buchanan St bus station |
Inverness | Wed 13 November | 08:30 – 17:00 | Eastgate Shopping Centre Falcon entrance |
Inverness | Thu 14 November | 10:30 – 16:30 | Inverness UHI campus |
Aberdeen | Wed 20 November | 12:30 – 16:30 | Robert Gordon University |
Aberdeen | Thu 21 November | 08:30 – 17:00 | Aberdeen bus station, Union Square |
Glasgow | Wed 27 November | 08:30 – 16:30 | Glasgow Royal Hospital |
Why bus priority?
The importance of bus priority measures cannot be overstated when it comes to improving public transport in our cities. Recent data from Aberdeen demonstrates the effectiveness of these initiatives: introducing new bus priority routes has reduced journey times by 25% and increased bus patronage by 8%. These figures highlight that bus priority is a proven strategy to boost public transport usage quickly and efficiently.
Given these successes, it’s time for the Scottish Government to reconsider its decision to cancel the £500 million Bus Partnership Fund. Restoring this funding is essential to continue developing efficient and reliable bus services that can reduce congestion, cut emissions, and provide a better experience for everyone.
Read more…