{"id":2988,"date":"2016-03-14T06:38:17","date_gmt":"2016-03-14T06:38:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/?p=2988"},"modified":"2016-03-14T06:39:16","modified_gmt":"2016-03-14T06:39:16","slug":"campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/","title":{"rendered":"Campaign launch calls for ‘Fair Deal for Scotland’s Bus Users’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Transform Scotland<\/p>\n

NEWS RELEASE<\/p>\n

Monday 14 March 2016<\/p>\n

CAMPAIGN LAUNCH CALLS FOR ‘FAIR DEAL FOR SCOTLAND\u2019S BUS USERS’:
\nBus campaign publishes new research setting out contribution of bus commuters to Scottish economy<\/p>\n

Transform Scotland [1] has today (Monday 14 Mar) launched a new campaign calling for a fairer deal for Scotland\u2019s bus users. The \u2018Bus Fair\u2019 campaign [2] highlights the economic, social and environmental benefits that buses bring and sets out proposals for promoting bus travel in Scotland. \u2018Bus Fair\u2019 sets out three key demands to encourage much-needed action to be taken to improve Scotland\u2019s buses: bus priority, smartcards, and tax relief for bus commuters. The campaign website is at http:\/\/busfair.transform.scot<\/p>\n

The campaign launch comes as Transform publishes new research on the economic impact of buses in Scotland, focussing on their importance for commuters [3]:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Buses Support 260,000 Scottish Jobs
\n\u2022 Bus commuters contribute \u00a32.3 billion to the Scottish economy
\n\u2022 11% of people who travel to work by bus at some point in time would leave their job if there was no bus service.<\/p>\n

Transform Scotland chair Phil Matthews said:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need the transport debate to pay much more attention to buses. There is an ongoing fascination with new air routes, motorways, and high-speed trains, but very little focus on the mode of transport used by most users of public transport on a daily basis. That is why we\u2019re today launching our \u2018Bus Fair\u2019 campaign.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cGovernment figures released a fortnight ago showed that there had been a 10% fall in bus passengers within just the past five years. [4] So it\u2019s now imperative that government turns more of its attention to how it can reverse this worrying fall in bus use. While there has been welcome growth in rail travel over the past decade, rail remains a small part of overall Scottish public transport, with buses still moving 80% of all travellers.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Phil continued:<\/p>\n

\u201cBuses are important for the Scottish economy, but investment in buses is also important for societal reasons. Lower income groups, young people, women, and the elderly are disproportionately dependent on buses in order to get around. If political parties are serious about a fairer and more inclusive Scotland they need to focus on buses and thereby better meet the needs of these groups.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The Bus Fair campaign is calling for:<\/p>\n

* Bus priority<\/p>\n

Bus travel is the most common mode of public transport in Scotland, yet one in ten bus journeys suffer from delays due to road congestion. Congestion leads to longer journey times, increased air pollution and major economic costs for Scotland\u2019s economy. Bus Fair calls for increased investment in bus lanes and other priority measures to help reduce bus journey times and minimise congestion on Scotland\u2019s roads.<\/p>\n

* Scotland-wide smart ticketing<\/p>\n

Bus Fair calls for the introduction of a Scotland-wide smart ticketing scheme usable by all modes of public transport \u2013 bus, tram, subway, train and ferry. The success of other smart ticketing schemes, such as London\u2019s Oyster card, highlights the overwhelming benefits to passengers and the public sector alike of a universal travel card. A Scottish smart ticket would enable flexible, integrated travel across Scotland and would remove the current barriers to public transport, such as separate cash payment for each journey.<\/p>\n

* ‘Bus Bonus’<\/p>\n

We are calling for the Scottish Government to press the UK Government to provide tax relief for public transport season tickets, in order to provide equal treatment for bus users. Given that HMRC continues to offer tax incentives for car parking at workplaces, it is unfair that bus commuters do not benefit from an equivalent system. The success of other tax relief schemes, such as the \u2018Cycle to Work Scheme\u2019, has proven the benefits of encouraging sustainable commuting by means of government incentives. A similar system for buses would present a fairer deal for regular bus users and encourage commuters to take the bus more frequently.<\/p>\n

Further information about the \u2018Bus Fair\u2019 campaign can be found at http:\/\/busfair.transform.scot<\/p>\n

ENDS<\/p>\n

NOTES TO EDITORS:<\/p>\n

[1] Transform Scotland<\/p>\n

Transform Scotland is the national alliance for sustainable transport, bringing together organisations from the private, public and voluntary sectors — see https:\/\/transform.scot\/who-we-are\/our-members\/<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n

[2] ‘Bus Fair’ campaign<\/p>\n

‘Bus Fair’ is a campaign by Transform Scotland calling for greater support and investment for Scotland\u2019s buses. See http:\/\/busfair.transform.scot for the campaign website.<\/p>\n

[3] New bus research<\/p>\n

The research factsheet is available at http:\/\/busfair.transformscotland.org.uk\/portfolio\/getting-us-to-work\/<\/a> References are available on request.<\/p>\n

Over the next few months, the campaign will be publishing further research findings on the economic contribution of buses to shopping and leisure trips, the role of buses in providing equal access to Scotland\u2019s people, and the role of buses in cutting levels of congestion and pollution.<\/p>\n

[4] Fall in bus passenger numbers<\/p>\n

See http:\/\/www.transport.gov.scot\/report\/j415388-05.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

END OF NEWS RELEASE<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Transform Scotland NEWS RELEASE Monday 14 March 2016 CAMPAIGN LAUNCH CALLS FOR ‘FAIR DEAL FOR SCOTLAND\u2019S BUS USERS’: Bus campaign publishes new research setting out contribution of bus commuters to Scottish economy Transform Scotland [1] has today (Monday 14 Mar) launched a new campaign calling for a fairer deal for Scotland\u2019s bus users. The \u2018Bus…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"_expiration-date-status":"saved","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[70,1],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCampaign launch calls for 'Fair Deal for Scotland's Bus Users' - Transform Scotland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Campaign launch calls for 'Fair Deal for Scotland's Bus Users' - Transform Scotland\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Transform Scotland NEWS RELEASE Monday 14 March 2016 CAMPAIGN LAUNCH CALLS FOR ‘FAIR DEAL FOR SCOTLAND\u2019S BUS USERS’: Bus campaign publishes new research setting out contribution of bus commuters to Scottish economy Transform Scotland [1] has today (Monday 14 Mar) launched a new campaign calling for a fairer deal for Scotland\u2019s bus users. The \u2018Bus...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Transform Scotland\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/transformscotland\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-03-14T06:38:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2016-03-14T06:39:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Colin Howden\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TransformScot\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TransformScot\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Colin Howden\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Colin Howden\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#\/schema\/person\/8c7cfd69849374997815db63c4ae338e\"},\"headline\":\"Campaign launch calls for ‘Fair Deal for Scotland’s Bus Users’\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-03-14T06:38:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-03-14T06:39:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/\"},\"wordCount\":819,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Featured\",\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/\",\"name\":\"Campaign launch calls for 'Fair Deal for Scotland's Bus Users' - Transform Scotland\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2016-03-14T06:38:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-03-14T06:39:16+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Campaign launch calls for ‘Fair Deal for Scotland’s Bus Users’\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/\",\"name\":\"Transform Scotland\",\"description\":\"For Sustainable Transport\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Transform Scotland\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/2473148\/admin\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/transformscot\",\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transform_Scotland\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/transformscotland\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TransformScot\"],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/TransformScotland_RGB-arrow-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/TransformScotland_RGB-arrow-1.png\",\"width\":3543,\"height\":3531,\"caption\":\"Transform Scotland\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#\/schema\/person\/8c7cfd69849374997815db63c4ae338e\",\"name\":\"Colin Howden\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a7212ff02ee99fc0777aa158ff379c46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a7212ff02ee99fc0777aa158ff379c46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Colin Howden\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/author\/colin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Campaign launch calls for 'Fair Deal for Scotland's Bus Users' - Transform Scotland","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Campaign launch calls for 'Fair Deal for Scotland's Bus Users' - Transform Scotland","og_description":"Transform Scotland NEWS RELEASE Monday 14 March 2016 CAMPAIGN LAUNCH CALLS FOR ‘FAIR DEAL FOR SCOTLAND\u2019S BUS USERS’: Bus campaign publishes new research setting out contribution of bus commuters to Scottish economy Transform Scotland [1] has today (Monday 14 Mar) launched a new campaign calling for a fairer deal for Scotland\u2019s bus users. The \u2018Bus...","og_url":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/","og_site_name":"Transform Scotland","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/transformscotland","article_published_time":"2016-03-14T06:38:17+00:00","article_modified_time":"2016-03-14T06:39:16+00:00","author":"Colin Howden","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@TransformScot","twitter_site":"@TransformScot","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Colin Howden","Estimated reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/"},"author":{"name":"Colin Howden","@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#\/schema\/person\/8c7cfd69849374997815db63c4ae338e"},"headline":"Campaign launch calls for ‘Fair Deal for Scotland’s Bus Users’","datePublished":"2016-03-14T06:38:17+00:00","dateModified":"2016-03-14T06:39:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/"},"wordCount":819,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Featured","News"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/","url":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/","name":"Campaign launch calls for 'Fair Deal for Scotland's Bus Users' - Transform Scotland","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#website"},"datePublished":"2016-03-14T06:38:17+00:00","dateModified":"2016-03-14T06:39:16+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2016\/03\/14\/campaign-launch-calls-for-fair-deal-for-scotlands-bus-users\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Campaign launch calls for ‘Fair Deal for Scotland’s Bus Users’"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#website","url":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/","name":"Transform Scotland","description":"For Sustainable Transport","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#organization","name":"Transform Scotland","url":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/2473148\/admin\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/transformscot","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transform_Scotland","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/transformscotland","https:\/\/twitter.com\/TransformScot"],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/TransformScotland_RGB-arrow-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/TransformScotland_RGB-arrow-1.png","width":3543,"height":3531,"caption":"Transform Scotland"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#\/schema\/person\/8c7cfd69849374997815db63c4ae338e","name":"Colin Howden","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a7212ff02ee99fc0777aa158ff379c46?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a7212ff02ee99fc0777aa158ff379c46?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Colin Howden"},"url":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/author\/colin\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2988"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2988"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2988\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2989,"href":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2988\/revisions\/2989"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}