Category: EBUG news

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How bus routes change; a quick guide to the process

Bus users and others often question how and why bus routes are changed, and are often very aggrieved about consultation, advance notice, and communication, or the lack of them. There is a complex set of legislation and regulations governing bus services. Lengthy but detailed explanations are here: https://www.gov.uk/run-local-bus-service and https://www.transport.gov.scot/public-transport/buses/transport-scotland-act-2019-and-bus-services/provision-of-service-information-when-varying-or-cancelling-registration/

EBUG’s attempt at a short guide for convenience follows:

Bus operators (who must hold an operator’s licence) are free to run any route they choose, vary or withdraw them as they see fit. Members of the public have no statutory right to input. This is set out in primary legislation.

Continue reading “How bus routes change; a quick guide to the process”

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No.10 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin March 2023

Dear EBUG member,

This is the tenth of our occasional updates for members.

Our AGM is on Wednesday June 21, at 18:00 in the Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Our Guest Speaker will be Councillor Scott Arthur, Convener of Transport and Environment at the City of Edinburgh Council.

This Members’ Bulletin is the official notification to all members, as required by EBUG’s constitution.

Continue reading “No.10 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin March 2023”

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No.9 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin October 2022 EBUG

Dear EBUG member,

This is the ninth of our occasional updates for members.

Our AGM took place on Thursday June 30, as publicised in the previous Members’ Bulletin (number 8, May 2022).

The main formalities were election of the Committee; as follows:

Chair: Harald Tobermann
Secretary: Chris Day
Treasurer: Bob Moseley
 

Also elected to the Committee: Sally Millar, Jennifer Marlborough, Gail Clapton, Colin Brown, Fiona McLean (3 places vacant).

The AGM heard from Jess Pepper of lovemybus, which spreads a positive message about buses rather than overt campaigning. Jess reflected on the mismatch between buses’ importance to daily life and the (e.g. media) attention they get. The campaign now aims to establish an upwards spiral in attitudes to bus travel.

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Commentary on bus sector recovery

This piece was written for Transform Scotland, and is also available on TS’s website. BBC Scotland also wrote about it.

There was a flurry of interest in early October about public transport recovering from losing passengers during the Covid pandemic. The Scotsman reported transport minister Jenny Gilruth needing to find funding to avert bus service cuts www.scotsman.com/news/transport/lifeline-funding-to-stave-off-massive-bus-service-cuts-urgently-sought-by-transport-minister-jenny-gilruth-3873105. Then Transform Scotland highlighted a recovery in rail patronage, though ScotRail lags behind other operators https://twitter.com/TransformScot/status/1579460922933796864. Back in July 2021, Transform Scotland had highlighted the need for ‘A Just Recovery for Public Transport’ (download link here https://transform.scot/corona-recovery-series-revisited/) Continue reading “Commentary on bus sector recovery”

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EBUG’s deputation to CEC: 22 September 2022

Here’s the text of EBUG’s deputation to the City of Edinburgh Council on 22 September 2022, in response to a motion by Cllr Thornley on ‘Hopper fares’, which was passed. Item 8.2 here is https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=150&MId=6468

A webcast of the meeting is available at https://edinburgh.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/701504

N.B. the text differs slightly from ‘as delivered’, especially paragraphs 10-11 which were reduced for brevity)

Continue reading “EBUG’s deputation to CEC: 22 September 2022”

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Edinburgh and South East Scotland Bus Partnership fund bid

A presentation on September 4 on the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Bus Partnership fund bid:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdPF9D62kwA

The slides below, which featured in the presentation, show

  1. Potential bus priority corridors to be developed if the bid succeeds.
  2. Current ‘hotspots’ where buses are particularly delayed by traffic in the mornings.
  3. Current ‘hotspots’ where buses are particularly delayed in the afternoons.

Send us your comments!
Continue reading “Edinburgh and South East Scotland Bus Partnership fund bid”

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No.8 – Members’ Bulletin May 2022

This bulletin was received by EBUG’s web-weaver in early September 2022, i.e. after the AGM it covers.

Dear EBUG member,

This is the eighth of our occasional updates for members.

Our AGM is on Thursday June 30, at 18:00 in the Friends Meeting House, Victoria Terrace. This Members’ Bulletin is the official notification to all members, as required by EBUG’s constitution. https://edinburghbususers.group/ebug-trial/constitution-and-agm-papers. Continue reading “No.8 – Members’ Bulletin May 2022”

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The rise of the Autonomous Bus: what do they have to offer?

The media has been quite exercised lately by the planned trial of Autonomous Buses across the Forth between Ferrytoll and Edinburgh Park.

In early May, a member of EBUG’s Committee took part in a workshop run by Edinburgh Napier University as part of the ‘CAVForth’ trail.

The day’s agenda included: Introduction to the research, project overview, pre-trial surveys, benefits and how to realise them, risks and mitigation, drivers and barriers (to name a few)…

It did not include any trial runs of the buses. On-ground trials, with passengers, start later in 2022 (Monday – Sunday, up to every 20mins; probable route number AB1).

The introduction revealed the answer to ‘what are ABs for?’ (reframed as ‘what are their expected benefits?’) is:

  • Safety: elimination of human error
  • Reliability: ABs could
    1. potentially overcome unexpected staff unavailability
    2. continuously adjust optimal driving to meet local circumstances
  • Reduce fuel use

Continue reading “The rise of the Autonomous Bus: what do they have to offer?”