Aberdeen bus gates to benefit half a million users each month
The city's two largest operators are welcoming to controversial measures
The controversial new bus gates on Aberdeen's Market Street, Bridge Street and Guild Street have been widely criticised by locals, but the city's two main bus operators say they'll help 500,000 passengers each month.
First Bus and Stagecoach Bluebird have both welcomed the new measures, which they hope will make bus a more attractive mode of transport.
"As bus operators, we want to play our part in building a city centre that is sustainable and vibrant, therefore attracting more business and footfall to the city centre," said Managing Director of First Bus, Duncan Cameron.
Will busier services mean cheaper services?
Bus journey times should be reduced with less traffic on priority routes, which Mr Cameron hints could make journeys cheaper.
"The introduction of these new bus priority measures is intended to allow buses to flow through the city centre quicker than they have before while also improving reliability of bus travel.
"If these intentions are delivered, then it will allow us to reinvest these savings in our network and accelerate our plans to introduce more services and greater value tickets for our customers."
A single journey on First Bus in Aberdeen currently sits at £5.10, with a day pass at £5.10 and a week pass £21.
Continuing, Mr Cameron said: "This has been an important investment by Aberdeen City Council and Transport Scotland into public transport which will enable people quicker access to the city centre and deliver a more effective bus service for people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire."
Sustainability is key
As well as, in theory, improving reliability of the services, more buses and less cars in Aberdeen will help the Scottish Government reach their 2030 goal of reducing car kilometres by 20%.
Daniel Laird, Managing Director at Stagecoach Bluebird, said: "As we continue to collectively reduce emissions and improve air quality in the city, we are grateful for the investment so far by Aberdeen City Council and Transport Scotland which will lay the foundations for real improvements to sustainable bus travel and efficient journey times in the coming months and years.
"Taking the bus in Aberdeen is already the sustainable choice, and these improvements will make that choice easier for thousands of passengers across the region.
"We're confident that the new measures will deliver more consistent journey times for customers, build on a sustainable public transport network and make services more attractive as the city continues with its transformation."