Survey on Glasgow's buses launched days after petition handed to SPT bosses

A survey asking for views about bus services in Glasgow has been launched, just days after campaigners handed over a petition to SPT bosses calling for public ownership.

The Glasgow Bus Alliance (GBA), made up of operators including First Bus, Stagecoach, West Coast Motors and McGills, is asking for thoughts on all aspects of the service to try and improve.

The GBA would like feedback from people of all ages, and from both those who use or do not use the bus, to help shape the future for the Greater Glasgow area.

Fiona Doherty, Chair of Glasgow Bus Alliance and Managing Director of Stagecoach West Scotland said: “The partners of the Glasgow Bus Alliance are all investing in the bus network and as a group we have outlined where we want bus to go but we want to hear from the people of Greater Glasgow, whether they use the bus or not.

"All bus operators want an excellent decarbonised bus network that delivers a simple to use, fast, smart, integrated bus network which encourages more people to use the bus within and from the City of Glasgow. We look forward to hearing your views.”

Cllr Angus Millar, Glasgow City Council Convener for Transport and Climate said: “As well as helping to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, using the bus is an integral part of day-to-day life for many people across the city, providing a vital link to leisure, employment and educational opportunities.

“By striving to create the conditions that encourage people onto buses such as faster, seamless and better-connected journeys, we can make switching away from using the car an increasingly attractive option for everyday journeys."

Calls for public ownership

It comes days after campaigners handed in a petition to SPT calling for buses to be brought into public ownership.

The Better Buses for Strathclyde campaign wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "We submitted 9,751 or your signatures to Vice Chair Cllr Alan Moir demanding that SPT move forward with taking our region's buses back into Public Control."

The group's petition reads: "Bus services across Strathclyde are in crisis.

"Private bus companies receive millions in public subsidies every year, yet they continue to cut our vital services and hike up fares.

"This has left many people across our region locked out of jobs and opportunities, unable to visit friends or family, or forced to buy cars.

"We’ve seen a vicious circle of decline ever since our buses were deregulated in 1986. Now finally we have the chance to turn this around.

"New powers in the Transport Act 2019 mean our transport authority – SPT – can take our buses back into public control.

"Re-regulating the private bus companies (through ‘franchising’) will mean SPT can plan bus routes to serve our communities’ needs and to connect seamlessly with trains, ferries and Glasgow’s Subway.

"They can cut fares and deliver one simple, affordable ticket across all transport modes – like Greater Manchester is now doing.

"And SPT can also set up a new publicly-owned bus company for Strathclyde – like Edinburgh’s Lothian Buses – which can reinvest profits in improving our network. The next year is crucial."

The survey, which is available until the end of March, is available here.

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.