Glasgow’s largest bus operator calls for urgent action to tackle congestion in the city.
Report finds bus speeds falling faster in Glasgow than anywhere else in the UK.
Congestion a “disease which left unchecked will destroy bus sector”, says expert.
Major bus operator First Glasgow has called for urgent action to tackle traffic congestion after a study warned that it poses a serious threat to the city’s bus services.
The report, by leading sustainable transport group Greener Journeys, said bus speeds are falling faster in Glasgow than in the rest of the UK, and this has resulted in an “alarming” decline in passenger numbers.
The report’s author, transport expert Professor David Begg, described traffic congestion as a “disease which left unchecked will destroy the bus sector” and First Glasgow has called for immediate action to address the problem.
The bus operator said congestion leads to increased operating costs which in turn leads to increased fares and this can further deter passengers from using one of the most environmentally friendly travel options.
Alex Perry, Interim Managing Director of First Glasgow, said: “This report paints a stark picture for bus transport in Glasgow but we believe that by working with our partners and stakeholders in the city to reduce journey times we can turn things around.
“Sadly significant falls in bus patronage are often portrayed as being primarily due to the actions of the bus operators.
“However, this report lays bare the significant impact congestion has on our city and on bus passengers. By working in partnership to make space for buses we can deliver sustained benefits for passengers and the local economy.”
And referring to yesterday’s publication of the Committee on Climate Change progress report for Scotland, Alex Perry added: “Scotland is making good progress on reducing emissions but transport was one area where the committee said more could be done. Cars generate an average of 55% of all CO2 emissions compared with just 6% from buses so it is important that we work together to achieve the shared goal of making bus travel more attractive, thereby cutting congestion in Glasgow and improving air quality for all.”
The report found that in the 10 years up to 2014/15, the number of people using buses across the Strathclyde region fell by 22%, equivalent to 49 million fewer bus passengers.
The report also warned that if journey times continue to decline at their current rate, bus passenger numbers will drop by between 10% and 14% every 10 years, putting the future of the bus sector under threat.
Bus speeds in the city have dropped by 15% per decade compared with an average of 10% for the rest of the UK, the study found.
The Glasgow report is included in a number of case studies on congestion and its impact on bus travel, due to be unveiled at Westminster on Wednesday.
Prof Begg launched the first part of his report, The Impact of Congestion on Bus Passengers, in June and this has been followed by studies into congestion and its effects in Glasgow, Cheltenham and Gloucester, Oxford, West Midlands and Dublin.
Prof Begg, who is Visiting Professor at Plymouth University and former chairman of the Government’s Commission for Integrated Transport, said: “If you combine falling bus speeds with relatively cheap subsidised competition from an impressive urban rail network, and cheap and abundant public car parking, it explains why Glasgow has experienced an alarming decline in bus patronage over the past decade.
“Traffic congestion is a disease which left unchecked will destroy the bus sector. This is a dire and sensational prediction, but the evidence uncovered in this research leads to no other conclusion. Urgent action is required from industry, local government and Whitehall to reduce people’s reliance on cars and encourage more sustainable modes of transport.”
Claire Haigh, Chief Executive of Greener Journeys, said: “This report underlines the shocking growth of congestion and its enormous impact on bus users in particular. Measures such as contactless payments and effective bus priority measures are essential in order to ease congestion and encourage greater bus patronage.
“Buses make such a significant contribution to our economy and local communities and rising congestion levels pose a direct threat to services. We must act now to ensure that increasing traffic levels do not impact upon the viability of bus travel.”