Results of a major travel survey will shape the future of Glasgow’s bus travel
The GlasGo Bus Alliance has today (14.03.22) released the results of its major travel survey, which will help shape the future of bus across the city.
The GlasGo Bus Alliance is led by Glasgow city region bus operators and has a clear commitment of transforming bus travel. In its five-year manifesto, the alliance is set to deliver ambitious goals which will enhance the bus travel experience, improve connectivity and on bus technology whilst helping to reduce harmful emissions throughout the city and surrounding areas.
The travel survey, which was completed by over 2000 people, explored key areas of bus travel including bus information, ticketing, reliability, journeys and customer service. Some of the key findings include:
- Over 50% of respondents rely on bus for travelling to work
- 60% state that congestion and roadworks slow down bus journeys
- 30% are using the bus less frequently since the start of Covid 19 restrictions
- Feedback on driver appearance and driving is very positive
- Customer service channels on and offline needs improved
Using the survey results, the GlasGo team will now arrange focus groups to gather further feedback and understanding about bus travel across the Glasgow City region.
Since forming in April 2021, the alliance’s work to improve the overall bus experience is well underway. This includes Alliance members introducing electric vehicles across the city region as well as upgrading on bus technology in preparation for tap and cap ticketing systems.
Alongside this, to strengthen its commitment to improving bus across the city, the GlasGo Bus Alliance is a member of the Glasgow Bus Partnership. Chaired by ex-Scottish Traffic Commissioner, Joan Aitken and including Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Glasgow City Council and other city region local authorities, the bus partnership shares GlasGo Bus Alliance’s vision whilst addressing issues out with the bus operators’ control including road management, city planning and bus stop infrastructure.
Fiona Doherty, chair of GlasGo Bus Alliance, said: “We thank everyone who took the time to complete our survey, their thoughts and views truly matter. Bus is the backbone of public transport across the Glasgow city region and as an alliance we are focused on engaging with current and future bus users to improve the overall bus experience across the city”
“Whilst the survey highlights a satisfaction for bus travel in general there is much work to be done, especially around encouraging more journeys to be made by bus, improved ticketing and providing customer service channels which meets the needs of a wide range of customers.”
“On areas such as on street bus times, congestion and roadworks, we shall work with SPT and our local authorities through the Glasgow Bus Partnership to improve this. Through our collaboration, we are in a much better position to address these issues, which have a massive impact on the journey times of buses.”
Joan Aitken OBE, chair of the Glasgow Bus Partnership, added: “I’m pleased the GlasGo Bus Alliance is listening to its customers. These survey results from the people of Glasgow are important as we transform bus travel for the future. We need to engage with existing and future bus customers to ensure real change is made to not only encourage more people to leave their cars at home and get onto bus but to reduce the level of congestion in the city and surrounding areas.”
Councillor Anna Richardson, Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, said: “As well as contributing to a successful and just transition to a net-zero carbon, clean and sustainable city, bus is an integral and important part of daily life for many people across the city. By striving to create a smarter, affordable, and better-connected bus network that is easier for everyone to use – inequalities are reduced, work and leisure opportunities open up, and transport modal shift becomes more viable.”
“Through partnership working we have recently secured funding for bus priority measures from the Bus Partnership Fund, £1.655m of which will deliver projects within Glasgow, including the progression of detailed business cases for five bus corridors. Bus operators within the partnership have also embraced the introduction of Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone, a key public health intervention designed to tackle harmful levels of air pollution and as a result we are now seeing a much greater proportion of cleaner, zero and low emission buses travelling through our city centre and beyond.”
“Reducing journeys by car is essential if we are to reduce the carbon emissions that contribute toward climate change. By supporting sustainable, viable transport choices such as bus through our strategies and initiatives as well as through collaborative working, we can make city streets safer and more attractive, which in turn increases the quality of life for communities across the city and beyond.”
SPT chief executive Valerie Davidson, added: “As more people return to public transport as Covid restrictions are lifted, the results of the GlasGo Bus Alliance travel survey sets out a number of areas of concern for bus passengers and highlights areas for possible improvement.”
“Working collaboratively with bus operators and the Glasgow City Region authorities through the Glasgow Bus Partnership, SPT has facilitated work which identifies what real changes are necessary to improve public transport across the city region.”
If you wish to take part in any of the upcoming focus groups, you can contact the GlasGo Bus Alliance team at www.glasgobus.com/contact/
If you would like to discuss your communications needs, you can reach our friendly team on +44 (0) 141 548 5191 or send us an email.
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