Following today’s publication of the new annual ‘Scottish Transport Statistics’ communications assistant Leah Callan reflects on what we can learn from these statistics and how they might inform future policy decisions.
Public transport journeys on the rise
In 2022-23, public transport journeys rose by 34%, a positive upwards trend. However, the usage of public transport is still not as high as pre-pandemic levels, and the number of journeys by public transport must significantly increase in the next few years to reach our climate targets.
Bus travel is by far the most popular form of public transport in Scotland. In fact, over 75% of all public transport journeys in 2022-23 were made by bus.
These statistics reveal that public transport remains in high demand. To build on this momentum, the Scottish Government must prioritise investment in improving access and ensuring fair fares for public transport users in Scotland.
Yet cuts to bus funding undermine progress
A rebound in public transport journey post-pandemic is great news. The bad news is that the Scottish Government is now squandering the opportunity to further boost public transport journeys by slashing sustainable transport budgets.
Just this year, the Government cancelled its £500 million Bus Partnership Fund, directly undermining efforts to improve accessibility, reliability and speed in bus transport.
This will not only have drastic impacts on sustainable transport, but also perpetuate income and transport inequalities due to the reliance on buses of those on lower incomes.
This is but one example of recent Scottish Government actions which reflect a reduction in support for more sustainable and equitable public transport in Scotland.
Government failing its climate targets
The new statistics also reveal a continued reliance on cars in Scotland. In 2022-23, car traffic increased by 11% and over a third of the population drove every day. 2022 also saw the highest recorded level of licensed motor vehicles in the country- a staggering 3.1 million.
This comes in spite of the Scottish Government’s commitment to significantly reduce car kilometres in line with its climate targets.
Further, transport accounted for 28% of Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. Shockingly, road transport (including passenger cars and freight) accounted for almost three quarters of this. This makes road transport the largest emitter of the whole Scottish economy.
What next?
The release of the latest Transport Statistics from Transport Scotland has uncovered significant insights into the use of transport in the country.
It is imperative for the Scottish Government to recalibrate its focus towards sustainable transport initiatives.
The increase in public transport usage underscores the urgency for robust investment and prioritisation of sustainable transport. Strategies should not only mitigate environmental impact but also foster equitable access to transportation services.
The Scottish Government must urgently re-establish its climate goals and commitments and re-align policies accordingly.
Failure to do so will, ultimately, hinder Scotland’s journey towards a green and more inclusive future.
