Bus Journey Times in Cities: A Growing Concern
Bus services in cities are facing a common challenge: the impact of congestion on journey times. This issue is particularly prominent in Edinburgh, where the Number 38 bus service, which runs through the city, is experiencing longer travel times due to increasing traffic and congestion at peak hours. The average speed for buses in Scotland has dropped to 11.3 mph, a significant decline from 14.9 mph just two years ago, according to industry data.
The problem is not limited to individual routes; it affects the entire bus industry. Scotland's bus operators are struggling with the growing number of vehicles on the road, which leads to congestion and slower travel times. This situation is further exacerbated by the lack of priority measures for buses, making their services less attractive to passengers.
One of the key challenges is the impact of roadworks and traffic pinch points. Shop worker and regular bus user, Nico Reverie, highlights the frustration caused by delays, especially when it affects his ability to catch connecting buses. This issue is not unique to Edinburgh; research commissioned by the trade body CPT Scotland reveals a significant increase in running times for the Number 38 service over the last two decades, with rising traffic volumes and reduced speed limits contributing to the problem.
The CPT study also points out that operators across Scotland are having to adjust their services by adding buses and tweaking timetables to combat congestion. However, this comes at a time when bus usage is declining, creating a vicious cycle. Paul White, director of CPT Scotland, emphasizes the need for local authorities and operators to collaborate on priority measures such as bus lanes, bus gates, and traffic light priority to address this issue.
One controversial but successful example is the implementation of bus gates in Aberdeen, which improved journey times by up to 18.8% and increased passenger numbers. The study suggests that increasing bus speeds in congested urban areas could lead to a significant increase in additional journeys and reduce operators' costs. In the long term, the use of Artificial Intelligence to analyze real-time and historical data and prioritize buses will also play a crucial role in reducing delays.
Despite the challenges, Lothian Buses, a publicly-owned operator, is widely regarded as one of the UK's best. However, the firm's operations director, Willie Hamilton, highlights the impact of roadworks and the need to prioritize bus services to ensure a better passenger experience. He emphasizes that every second counts, and even small improvements in journey times at busy junctions can make a significant difference to passengers.
