Bus journeys plummet by 31%

New figures published by Transport Scotland show that whereas there were 436 million bus journeys in Scotland in 2011, there were just 301 million in 2022- a fall of 31%. The number of bus journeys is also down by 17% from pre-pandemic numbers in 2019, when there were 361 million journeys.

Earlier this month, Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie MSP questioned the SNP Government following revelations that it had spent less than 6% of their now-cancelled Bus Partnership fund to improve bus services.

Mr O’Malley said:

“The SNP have decimated Scotland’s bus network.

“They have slashed funding and support, leaving many operators in the lurch. Now, those operators are facing suppressed passenger demand, driver shortages, surging costs for fuel, spare parts and tyres.

“If we want to convince people to make more journeys by bus, we need a system that is affordable, reliable and joined up.  

“That’s why Scottish Liberal Democrats would enhance support for the bus network and put communities in charge of where and when buses go by adopting the Transport for London model.”