Bus Action Plan: An Agenda for Change

Moving into the Future: An Action Plan for Buses - the Bus Action Plan http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/01141850/0 - was published in December 2006 as part of the National Transport Strategy http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/NTS.

It identified the key areas in which improvements would have to be made if the sought after advances in modal shift to bus were to be achieved.

Following a period of detailed analysis by key stakeholders of how the Bus Action Plan might best be implemented, a high level forum of senior decision-makers from local and central government, the bus industry and its regulatory agencies met in Edinburgh on 11 March 2008. The forum was chaired by Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change.

The forum concluded that improved quality is key to persuading increasing numbers of drivers to leave their cars at home and travel by bus. So, too, is effective partnership in the planning and delivery of the required improvements. If the public and private sectors give even greater priority to buses and their passengers, and collaborate, there is a chance of taking the recent increases in passenger numbers to the next level.

At the forum, the Minister undertook to continue to work with the various stakeholders in advancing the agenda for change; to follow progress; and to issue bus policy guidance to stakeholders later in 2008.

The report of the high level forum may be found by clicking here.

The agenda, aims and background to the forum may be found by clicking here.