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1. Main Points
1.1 The total number of passenger journeys (boardings) on local bus services in Scotland:
- was 465 million in 2004-05, 2% more than in the previous year - this was only the eighth increase since the current records began in 1975, and was the first time since then that there have been increases in six consecutive years.
- fell by 9% between 1994-95 and 2004-05, compared with an increase of 5% in Great Britain and a fall of 13% for Great Britain outwith London.
- represented 92 journeys per head of population in 2004-05, 16% higher than the corresponding figure for Great Britain.
1.2 The distance travelled by local bus services in Scotland:
- was 366 million vehicle kilometres in 2004-05, 1% less than in the previous year.
- is 1% less than ten years ago.
- on subsidised services has increased by 10% over the past 10 years.
1.3 All Scottish bus and coach services (local plus non-local):
- travelled 506 million vehicle kilometres in 2004-05, 5% less than in the previous year.
- travelled 2% less than in 1994-95
1.4 In real terms, fares on local bus services in Scotland fell by 1% between 2003-04 and 2004-05. They increased by 12% over the past ten tears.
1.5 Local bus passenger receipts in Scotland in 2004-05 were £381 million and, in real terms were the same as ten years earlier.
1.6 In Scotland, over the past ten years, the number of single decker buses and coaches has increased by 14%, and the number of double deckers has reduced by 30%. Staff numbers in 2004-05 were 2% higher than in 1994-95. The operating costs per vehicle kilometre (including depreciation) were 16% lower in real terms than ten years earlier.
1.7 Since 1975, Scotland has seen a 48% reduction in the number of local bus passenger journeys (boardings) but an 8% increase in the distance travelled by local bus services. This compares with a 39% reduction in passenger journeys (boardings) for Great Britain as a whole and an increase of 7% in vehicle kilometres.
1.8 In the Scottish Household Survey interviews conducted in 2004, about seven-eighths of households said that they were within 6 minutes walk of a bus stop. About 4% of householders said that they had no bus service or were at least 14 minutes walk away from the nearest bus stop (or place where one could get on a bus). However, about 26% of householders in "remote" rural areas, and around 13% of those in "accessible" rural areas, said that they had no bus service or were at least 14 minutes walk away from one.
Chart A: Distance travelled by bus services (Scotland)
Chart B: Distance travelled by local bus services per head of population
1.9 In 2004, public transport was described as "very convenient" by 51% of adults in large urban areas and 16-22% of those living in rural areas. In "remote" rural areas, 27% said that it was "very inconvenient", compared with only 2% in large urban areas.
1.10 In 2004, 41% of adults stated that they had used a local bus service within the previous month. Females made more use of local bus services than males, with 12% of women using a bus service every day or almost every day, compared to 10% of men. 27% of 16-19 year olds used a bus service every day, or almost every day, compared with 8-11% of those aged 30 and above.
1.11 In 2004, 72% of adults who had used a local bus service within the previous month agreed with the statement that the buses run on time. Three-quarters agreed that the buses ran when they were needed, 75% found them comfortable, 86% felt safe and secure on the bus, 89% found the range and price of tickets easy to understand, and 68% of bus users felt that bus fares were good value.
1.12 In 2004, 13% of commuters said that they usually travelled to work by bus, 67% went by car or van, and 20% used other means (mainly walking). Proportionately more women travelled by bus. 43% of those who went by car/van said that they could use public transport.
1.13 In 2004, the percentage of those who usually travelled to work by car or van who said that they could use public transport was highest for those living in large urban areas (52%). Only 15% of car/van commuters living in "remote" rural areas said that they could use public transport.
1.14 In 2004, the bus was the usual means of travel to work for 19% of those living in large urban areas. In the two-year period 2003/2004, Edinburgh (26%), Glasgow (21%) and Dundee (20%) had the highest percentages.
1.16 The main reasons given by car and van commuters who could use public transport to travel to work for not doing so included "takes too long", "inconvenient", "no direct route", "use my own car", and "need a car for/at work".
1.17 The reasons for not using buses more often, given by adults who used their local bus service at most "about once a week", if at all, included "use my own car", "no need", " takes too long ", "inconvenient", " lack of service " and "health reasons".
1.18 In 2004, 14% of adults said that they would feel "very safe", and 40% "fairly safe", when travelling by bus in the evening. However, 8% would feel "not safe at all" and 14% "not particularly safe".
1.19 In interviews conducted between April 2003 and December 2004, 26% of the population held a concessionary travel pass (81-86% of those who were in the age-groups over 65). 4% of adults appeared to have used a concessionary travel pass on the day prior to interview (11% of those aged 60 and over).
Chart C: Passenger journeys on local bus services (Scotland)
Chart D: Passenger journeys on local bus services per head of population
1.20 In 2004, about 10-11% of journeys made by adults each day were by bus, except on Sundays when it was only 6%. The percentage was higher for women (12%) than it was for men (9%); and was higher for those aged 16-19 and 70+ (19-26%) than for 30-59 year olds (6-8%). The self-employed, adults living in households with an annual net income of over £25,000, and adults living in rural areas and remote small towns, all made at most 5% of their journeys by bus.
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