1) Could you publish the delay minutes to Edinburgh bus services (pre- & post-pandemic)? And analysis of solutions?
I’m afraid this is not information held by political party groups. It can be obtained directly from the relevant bus companies.
2) Would you resurrect the bus-stop rationalisation proposal? If so, what consultation should take place?
Liberal Democrats have always had deep concerns about the SNP / Labour administration’s bus stop rationalisation programme. Our fear was always that a significant reduction in stops had the potential to make it more difficult for people to access local bus services, especially older and more vulnerable residents. We were pleased that the project was halted and, given the many other challenges facing public transport, do not believe that precious officer time and resource should be allocated to this.
3) Why are gaps between bus stops so long?
Many of the positions of bus stops are historic. Without knowing the specific gaps being referred to, it is difficult to comment.
4) Do you agree that there should be no reduction in the number of bus stops?
Liberal Democrats have always had deep concerns about the SNP / Labour administration’s bus stop rationalisation programme. Our fear was always that a significant reduction in stops had the potential to make it more difficult for people to access local bus services, especially older and more vulnerable residents. We were pleased that the project was halted and, given the many other challenges facing public transport, do not believe that precious officer time and resource should be allocated to this.
5) The need for quicker services resulted in several express services; for which Stagecoach has won awards. Do you support more on specific routes e.g. North Berwick/S Queensferry-Edinburgh?
Liberal Democrats believe ‘express’ services can play an important part in the overall public transport network, especially for those in outlying areas, and encouraging more people to commute in by bus. However, great care is needed to avoid disadvantaging people in suburban areas who may lose out significantly if service frequency is reduced because local services no longer stop in their area.
6) What’s your view on re-regulating Edinburgh bus services i.e. Council sets the network, timetables, fares (instead of solely on commercial basis)?
Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh have been keen to completely rethink bus service provision in the city and have looked at a Transport for London type model which considers bus routes as, first and foremost, a public service. This would allow for a proper strategic approach to bus services across the city and help ensure all our communities have access to quality local bus services.
7) If you support bus re-regulation in Edinburgh (with something like TfL as a statutory body), how would you make it happen?
The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 did provide a range of new powers when it comes to providing local bus services. However, there remains serious questions over whether that legislation went far enough in terms of providing Councils with the powers needed to deliver the change and improvements needed. The kind of strategic control of bus services, as delivered through Transport for London, is not currently possible in Scotland.
8) Is a review of the bus network needed, with fewer buses through city centre but restored elsewhere? If so, how would you make it happen?
A full review of the bus network in Edinburgh is long overdue and needs to be made a priority. We need a network that meets the changing demands of passengers and provides a better and more effective alternative to car use across the city. This should not be about reducing services through the city centre (it is important to remember that city centre provision in many parts of Edinburgh is still poor) but about looking holistically at the network and providing a better network of services, including orbital routes.
9) How can you make buses more appealing, if service length, frequency, & reliability has constantly gone down but fares up?
Buses are appealing when they are available, reliable and affordable. Most importantly, they need to take passengers where they want and need to go, whether for work or leisure. Policy around the provision of bus services must focus on these essential areas. This means a proper and connected network of bus services, prioritisation that helps buses keep to their timetables and careful control of costs so they provide value for money.
10) What role do buses play in meeting council’s climate change agenda? Could the current bus system in Edinburgh help it? If not, what needs to be done?
Bus services in Edinburgh are absolutely critical to reducing congestion, improving air quality and cutting greenhouse has emissions. Our city will not be able to meet our zero-carbon goals without big improvements in bus services in terms of availability, reliability and affordability.
11) Areas outside Edinburgh are rapidly developing, many having poor/no access to bus services, possibly increasing traffic. Should Edinburgh Council do anything to address this?
Yes, this is essential. Too many new housing developments have limited access to public transport, which forces residents to use their car. Edinburgh Council has an important leadership role to play by championing an improved bus network that better serves new and existing communities. There is also a role to play in terms of planning when developments are approved, so developers pay towards the start up costs of new bus provision.
12) What’s your view on bus lane operating time and mileage extension? If you support it, how would you make it happen, especially against possible opposition?
Bus lanes have a key role to play in keeping buses to time and making them more competitive compared to other transport modes. Liberal Democrats support the principle of widening bus prioritisation across the city. However, great care is needed to avoid unintended consequences of new or expanded bus lanes and proper consultation with local communities would be critical before changes were introduced.
13) What do you think about bus gates?
Bus gates have an important role to play in allowing road access in areas where private vehicle use is restricted. The appropriateness of bus gates always depends on local circumstances and the needs of communities. That is why proper local consultation is important when Edinburgh Council is considering changes.
14) Why not a council policy where significant restrictions in width on a main road lead to a general traffic closure, so roadworks don’t delay buses?
A blanket cross-city policy could be a challenge to implement given the need to ensure local resident access and commercial delivery provision. Generally, Edinburgh Council should be doing more to ensure utility companies minimise disruption from road works and also reduce the overall time taken to complete works so our roads stay open and accessible.
15) Why not a council policy prioritising resurfacing work on bus routes, and specialist resurfacing at bus stops to withstand the additional load?
The standard of many roads across the city is a disgrace. The issue is a lack of proper and sustained investment. Liberal Democrat councillors have, over successive years, presented fully costed plans to invest substantial extra funds for road resurfacing. These have been voted down by SNP and Labour councillors each and ever time. The priority must be getting more money invested so more roads can get the repairs so desperately needed, including key bus routes.
17) Bus shelters and real time information boards; should these be rolled out across the city, not just busy areas?
Whilst bus shelters are not always feasible because of the footway width or specific location, Liberal Democrats believe more bus shelters are important, particularly for more vulnerable passengers. Real time bus information should also be more widely available across the city so passengers have easy access to up to the minute on bus arrivals.
18) What do you think about interchanges, and what do they need?
Interchanges can play an important role in the bus network where passengers need to change services. They need to be well sheltered and well signed with quality up to the minute information. However, Liberal Democrats believe, first and foremost, in a bus network that minimises the need for passengers to change services as people are more likely to use a bus if the can complete their journey via one service. Inevitably, that is not always possible, but an improved network of services and a greater focus on better orbital routes could reduce the reliance on interchanges.
19) In the ‘to not through’ approach, will any buses still go through the centre? Would shuttle buses across the city centre be environmentally better than normal buses doing the same?
Liberal Democrats are opposed to any policy of ending ‘through routes’ via the city centre. We believe forcing people to change in the city centre will make buses less attractive and are likely to reduce rather than increase bus passenger numbers.
20) What is, and should, CEC do about abuse of bus gates, especially on Princes St and South St David St?
Cameras should be installed at all bus gates where is evidence of clear and repeated breaches of movement restrictions by private vehicles.
21) What is/should be done about the timing of traffic lights at the Waverley Br/Princes St junction?
If there are issues with traffic light timing then these should be reviewed by council officers with a report, if necessary, to the Transport Committee. We would expect key transport groups like EBUG to be properly consulted in that process.
22) What are your plans to make buses more attractive to passengers, in particular, to speed them up through congested traffic?
As mentioned before, buses are attractive when they are available, reliable and affordable. Most importantly, they need to take passengers where they want and need to go, whether for work or leisure. Policy around the provision of bus services must focus on these three essential areas. This means a proper and connected network of bus services, prioritisation that helps buses keep to their timetables and careful control of costs so they provide value for money.
23) How should Transport Scotland’s £500 million bus priority fund be best used in Edinburgh?
First and foremost, it is critical that Edinburgh, as Scotland’s capital city and one with a significant number if commuters, gets it fair share of funding from the bus priority fund. One priority area for the city should be a major expansion of park and ride, both in terms of new sites and increased capacity at existing sites. The current SNP / Labour administration has failed miserably to deliver the promised improvement with park and ride over the last 5 years. With proper funding, Liberal Democrats believe park and ride can play a huge role in reducing the numbers of people driving into the city. The increase in passengers can also make certain services more viable for local communities.