Good public transport – effective, reliable, safe, and affordable – is a hallmark of a modern, forward-looking society. It liberates people who cannot drive and provides a practical alternative to those who choose not to.
This week Iain Gray MSP published his proposals for a Bill to provide transport authorities with greater powers to among other things:
- set service levels for local bus services,
- group profitable routes with non-profitable routes before they are put out to tender with operators.
While legislation exists that allows local authorities to influence the provision of bus services in their area, Iain Gray asserts these powers are scarcely used, so ineffective. So much so, that the body that oversees public transport issues, Transport Scotland is interested in the proposals for change that are going to help improve bus services.
Here at Relbus we’re pretty interested too, and it will be a topic for discussion over the weeks and months ahead.
But if you want to put in your tuppence worth here’s how:
The PDF of the consultation document is here, it is not a heavy read: Bus Regulation (Scotland) Bill
In responding to the consultation, you are guided to answer the following questions:
- Do you support the general aim of the proposed Bill? Please indicate “yes/no/undecided” and explain the reasons for your response.
- What would be the main practical advantages of the legislation proposed? What would be the disadvantages?
- In what ways do you envisage reregulation being used to improve bus services?
- How can community transport be better utilised to serve local communities and particularly low passenger volume routes?
- Do you agree that the Traffic Commissioner should be able to impose greater financial penalties on operators who a) fail to meet the terms of the franchise or b) walk away from the franchise altogether?
- What is your assessment of the likely financial implications of the proposed Bill to you or your organisation? What other significant financial implications are likely to arise?
- Is the proposed Bill likely to have any substantial positive or negative implications for equality? If it is likely to have a substantial negative implication, how might this be minimised or avoided?
- Do you have any other comment or suggestion that is relevant to the need for or detail of this Bill?
Responses should be submitted by 30 August 2013 update: extended to 11th October 2013 and sent to:
Iain Gray MSP, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP
Tel: 0131 348 5901
Fax: 0131 348 6359
E-mail: bus.bill@scottish.parliament.uk
To help inform debate on the matters covered by this consultation and in the interests of openness, note that the normal practice is to make responses public – by posting them on Iain Gray’s website at www.iaingraymsp.co.uk and in hard copy in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre.
