Dear EBUG member,
This is the third of our occasional updates for members on recent developments of particular interest.
- The City of Edinburgh Council’s consultation on bus lane operating hours is complete. The outcome is awaited.
- Bus stop ‘rationalisation’ (i.e. reducing the number of stops): at the time of writing, we hear that on 27 February the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee will decide on an initial ‘pilot’ on a routes from east to south west Edinburgh. We’re planning to send a deputation to that meeting.
- The Council’s Transport and Environment Committee considered a report on bus priority measures on the A90 in June, and instructed officials to return with something better within two committee cycles. However, this has still not happened.
- ‘Superbus’ design and access: Lothian Buses has received feedback from users on problems with the interior layout of these. It is hoped there will be more definite news in the near future.
- Members of the EBUG Committee met Lothian Buses’ management in December to discuss subjects of mutual interest, and agreed to continue meeting on a regular basis.
- In February, the Council began a two-month consultation on its ‘City Mobility Plan’ (Local Transport Strategy) for the next ten years. You can send in your own comments here. The EBUG Committee will be involved in the consultation. We’d be interested to hear members’ thoughts, via edinburghbususersgroup@btinternet.com
- ‘The Scotsman’ revealed that car journeys across the Forth had increased since the new bridge opened. The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee had a session with Transport Scotland officials and others to hear about the Forth Crossing Public Transport Strategy (PTS). The PTS was supposed to progress in parallel with the new bridge, to ensure that it did not just result in extra car journeys. Disappointingly, it was quite clear from the evidence given that progress with the PTS has slow to non-existent.
- Lothian Buses fares went up by 10p per journey in February.
- We will be holding our first AGM in late May, so keep an eye out for more details!
Your EBUG Committee