Parliamentary office 1 Foor, 4 St Miten Street, Paisley, PAL 1UA es Telephone Nei 0141 669 0457 ‘ Telephone Mary:0141 689 4820 (4 Neil Bibby MSP Ba Mary Fee MSP The Scottish Pariament 4 October 2013 lain Gray MSP. 65 High Street Tranent ast Lothian €H33 1LN Dear lain ‘We are writing to glve you the findings ofa survey that was conducted recently amongst some of our local constituents regarding your proposed bill to provide transport autharities with greater powers to set service levels for local bus services. We also provided residents with information pertaining to your proposed bil ‘We are pleased to tell you that we had an overwhelming response to our survey, and that all who returned it were in support of our campaign for better local buses. Enclosed for your perusal is a short summary of our findings and copies of individual surveys. We wanted to share this with you before the end ofthe bil's consultation, Its clear from the concerns raised by local residents that people are feeling let down by bus companies that they rely on and that there is widespread support for authorities to be given greater powers. We have promised our constituents that we will keep them up to date with events, and hopefully we will have encouraging news for them in the futur. Yours sincerely Nex bin, oy kee ‘West Scotland (Labour) ‘West Scotland (Labour) wenn — Facebook:{acehook con/NellBibhyforwestofSceland Facebook: facebook com/Mary FeeiMSPSurvey on Buses and lain Gray MSP’s proposed bill 08/10/2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. “This report extracts and summarises findings of local survey carried out by Nel Bibby MSP and Mary Fee MSP in Renfrewshire during the month of September 2013 calling for better local buses. 1. INTRODUCTION ‘This report extracts ane summarises survey replies from local residents sharing thelr experiences of local bus services. 2. POINTS OF INTEREST 2.1 Alresients who returned survey were in support ofthe Better Buses Campaign to Introduce new laws 22.2 Three main concerns raised frm si possible eutcomes were: + Fare increases + Frequency of Seuice 1+ standard of Buses 2.3 When asked what more specific issues were of concer with regards to local bus services, replies includes ‘© Timetables Not Running to Time + Monopoly of one Bus Company/Lack of Competition ‘Bus Companies Changing Routes and Times Without Consultation 1+ Bus Tickets for Pensioners Having Inaccurate Final Destinations Printed on * Condition of Bus Fleets ‘Conduct ofa minority of divers 2.4 When asked ‘Why do You Use the Bus?’ Most people used It for: ‘© Shopping/Recreatonal Activity ‘© Accessing Services2.5 When asked whether the household owned a car: + 18% donot + 82%do 2.6 When asked whether these people would be more likely to use the bus their issues were addressed + 82% of people answered "Yes! 2.7 Direct quotes taken from surveys as means of evidence: “McGill buses have a timetable which bears no relation whatsoever tothe realty of trying ‘to catch a bus in Renfrew you are going into Glasgow. They have the stranglehold on the area, t's ‘ike Itorlumpit Not acceptable in my opinion!” “uses in use are old and in wet weather lea, leaving passengers cold and wet” “Fare hikes fora poor sence, never an time, rude drivers and rarely guaranteed a seat! A ‘one company monopoly sae forthe people” “There has not been an irprovement since public transport was taken from local/regional/national authorities, Fewer services and iregulaity seem to be the current trend and these operators receive subsidies from local and national pot. Efforts need to be ‘made to bring services back to public ownership.” 3 CONCLUSION ‘hore is widespread suppert for new bus laws tobe Introduced, The majority of people who expressed conceens would think about usag the bus more often f thelr concerns were addrecced. large amount of people survayed usa the hus ae meansto gain access to services and shops, thus making the bus an important service which they rely on in thelr everyday ite