Lift sharing: better than public transport? Prof. David Gray

Quick question? Which mode of transport is used most by non-car owning households in remote, rural and island areas?

Which mode of transport is used most by non-car owning households in remote, rural and island areas use most? The Car

The issue in a nutshell “The troubles of the rural buses really stem from the growth in the number of private motor cars now on our roads.” “A lot of people who have the car are prepared to give a lift into the town on market days to their neighbours of friends”

The issue in a nutshell “The troubles of the rural buses really stem from the growth in the number of private motor cars now on our roads.” “A lot of people who have the car are prepared to give a lift into the town on market days to their neighbours of friends” Hugh Wilson, MP for Truro, Parliamentary Debate (1962)

It’s the geography, stupid.”

Hard place to run a bus service

Easy place to run a bus service

Rural bus use On a given day… 2% of people living in remote rural areas will have used a bus 1% in remote small towns will use a bus. 5-6% more accessible rural areas and small towns 56% in our cities Only 2% travel to work by bus from rural households compared to 18% for Scotland as a whole

Scottish Bus decline: 2006/7 to 2016/17 Annual Bus journeys Network: Annual km Scotland -17% -15% Highlands and Islands -20% -23%

Empty buses - vicious circle Declining network Travel needs not being met Falling demand for services Higher £/per passenger costs Unsustain-able subsidies Service withdrawal Empty buses - vicious circle

Use of Concessionary Fares: by Local Authority Area Ranked (Lowest to Highest) Per Capita Over 60s JNYS Orkney Islands 3.83 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 3.98 Shetland Islands 4.47 Highland 5.51 Moray 5.79 Dumfries & Galloway 6.06 Scottish Borders 6.08 Aberdeenshire 6.47 Aberdeen City 19.77 Renfrewshire 20.48 Midlothian 20.71 Dundee City 24.61 Glasgow City 26.72 City of Edinburgh 35.26

What to do? More equitable mechanism for concessionary fares More capital less revenue Technology?

Time for a new paradigm? Reduce support for Public Transport, which doesn’t work Find ways to support public transport (i.e. informal car sharing) which do work… … in spite of the established policy paradigm… …over the last 60+ years

Any questions?