Key Challenges Identified by the Taskforce

During 2022, there was recognition across all stakeholders involved in the Taskforce that there were challenges in the post pandemic operating environment to sustain levels of bus service provision.

Driver shortages affected the reliability of services, and reduced patronage and inflationary costs continued to impact fares and the financial viability of services. This left passengers and members of the public dissatisfied with the level of communication and consultation regarding service changes that impacted communities.

For local government, the potential removal of commercial services due to lack of financial viability created financial concerns about their ability to provide subsidised support to socially necessary services and in ensuring that the local network could meet the needs of the public. While this is an issue across Scotland, it was highlighted that it was more acute in rural areas where bus services are generally less commercially viable.

Reliability of services affects all passengers but is particularly important to those who need additional assistance when travelling, or where the journey requires passengers to be at specific places at specific times, such as for appointments, education and employment. Improvements to both overall reliability and to communication of timetable changes that do happen are key in building confidence in the network.

Personal safety was also a common theme. This covers a range of issues from confidence in returning to public spaces after the pandemic to impact of anti-social behaviour on passengers and staff. It is important that passengers view bus as a safe travel option and work needs to be done on ensuring this is the case and in communicating this to the public

However, there is recognition of the longer term nature of some these challenges and the focus of the Taskforce was on short term collective action to deliver on the priorities of driver shortages, patronage growth and community engagement.