Dear EBUG member,
First of all, apologies to any members who didn’t receive our last Bulletin (Bulletin 12), due to the temporary unavailability of our usual method of posting it. You can still see it here on our website. along with other bus related news.
- Complaints continue to grow about the new on-street Real-Time Information screens, which are displaying timetable, not real-time, timings for Lothian Buses but not, apparently, for other operators. There’s been much confusion. There’s an explanation by Scott Arthur here. The situation continues to develop.
- Consultation on the future of George Street closes on 8 February. EBUG was involved in pre-consultation discussions. We believe the outcome is OK but not outstanding for buses; not too bad all things considered. There is still a very long way to go; notably, it’s not clear where the funding might be found.
- Elm Row: in early January, we’ll take part in a ‘stakeholder discussion’ about Elm Row, following criticism of how the area has be reconfigured.
- Traveline Scotland is seeking opinions on how to improve its website.
- Councillors made clear their displeasure with a report on ‘realigning’ supported bus service routes. The report recommended significant changes to existing subsidised routes, notably affecting bus users in Ratho and the 13 route. Next instalment probably at the Council’s Finance and Resources Committee on 25 January.
- We got a good reaction to our update on buses on Leith Walk post-tram.
- About £2m has been allocated to Edinburgh Council for further work on the bus priority programme. It is unlikely this would be allocated if the Scottish Government wasn’t sympathetically inclined towards substantially funding the programme long-term.
- Penalty charges for misusing bus lanes will increase to £100 (the maximum allowed by the Scottish Government). We have updated our Bus Lanes and Patronage Graph.
Wishing our members all the best for 2024 and everyone affordable, reliable and accessible public transport !
Your EBUG Committee