It has been highlighted that the region is facing a decline in bus usage and the related concern of losing affordable and reliable transportation.
In the South West and Strathclyde regions, the number of bus passenger journeys dropped by 61% in 2020-21, following the impact of the pandemic on already fragile services. Even before Covid, the number of bus journeys taken in this region had dropped by 35%.
From January 1, bus fares in Scotland will be higher than in England, as 130 operators in England have signed up to a £2 cap on fares for the first three months of the year. This follows a similar move made by Labour Mayor, Andy Burnham, in Greater Manchester.
Over the last five years, fares in Scotland have risen twice as fast as the average across Britain, while bus usage has dropped significantly.
A decline in bus usage would be a community concern, as it could affect not just individuals who rely on public transportation, but also the entire community as a whole. To address this issue, a cap on fares is being proposed to make public transportation more affordable and encourage more people to use it.
MSP Colin Smyth said: “The bus services people locally rely on every day are on the brink of collapse.
“In order to get people back on the buses, the SNP must follow the lead of Labour Mayors in England and cap fares to make public transport affordable once again.
“Our communities, our economy and our planet need a working bus network which is affordable and reliable.
“Bus services will face more cuts and decline unless we take serious action and provide better cheaper buses.”
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