Future of Buses
How should Scotland ensure that its bus industry fulfills its potential?
Zero emissions buses are one of the cheapest and most efficient way to decarbonise travel and use roadspace better but current networks reflect legacy needs more than future potential.
Should buses be free at the point of use?
If so how could it be paid for? Public spending will continue to be under pressure so new funding mechanisms are needed such as new fairer charges on households and travellers than the current inefficient and unfair tariffs charged by bus operators. Germany introduced a 9-euro-a-month travel pass, Austria’s 3-euro-a-day pass, Ireland slashed fares, Italy provided a 60-euro subsidy per person, Spain has offered free train travel for a trial period, and in England bus tickets are capped at £2 from the start of 2023.
Free fares boost public transport passengers, but not necessarily from drivers. The introduction of free concessionary travel for buses in Scotland found that free transport was more likely to be used by those who had previously been walking or cycling. Free fares also tend to provide the greatest financial benefits for wealthier people, rather than those on low incomes, since people living in wealthier places tend to travel further to work to reach better paid jobs and make greater savings when fares are free.
The case for free public transport is perhaps strongest as part of social signalling. Removing fares says to people that they have a right to get around regardless of their wealth, and that society values the choices of people to use public transport.
However there also needs to be parallel improvements in the capacity and coverage of public transport to cope with the travel demand induced by low or free fares policies. In Spain, the free tickets have disproportionately benefitted the places that already had high capacity frequent services which also tended to be the wealthier locations. Free rail tickets are of little benefit if there is no space on the trains or even no rail service at all.
How can we organise bus provision more socially?
Some argue that local authority control of buses could help to factor in social needs better and few would disagree with the case for revamping regulatory approaches. However what should the new regulation comprise. Much of the debate so far has been about who does what rather without any clarity about what changes we are seeking and who might be best able to deliver these changes.
STSG will be holding round table discussions in the months ahead to explore the policy options. If you would like to participate please e-mail admin@stsg.org and we will keep you in touch with our plans.
“Bus Regulation the Musical” offers a witty and informative history of changes in bus regulation and makes a case for new better regulation. Watch the musical and tell us which suggestions you agree or disagree with either by commenting on this post or by e-mailing admin@stsg.org