Transport / ‘Contradictory evidence’ on how busy buses are
THERE remains “contradictory evidence” around how well used Shetland’s public buses are – with one councillor suggesting some are running empty.
The issue was brought up at a meeting of Shetland Islands Council’s environment and transport committee on Monday.
While Shetland West member Mark Robinson said he believed some buses have been running empty, chair Moraig Lyall said a recent evening journey from Lerwick to Tingwall she was on was busy.
It came after Shetland South Alex Armitage asked whether consideration could be given to introducing more evening bus services.
He said there was frustration from some constituents in his ward over how regular buses are in the South Mainland in the evening.
But Robinson said he had concerns that a “large number” of buses in the daytime were running “completely empty”.
He also said he worked on buses pre-Covid pandemic where he ran services to and from Hillswick, for example, that were empty.
Robinson asked if data could be extrapolated from ticket sales to get a better understanding of usage.
Regarding evening services director of development Neil Grant said he could look into what may be able to be done in the short term.
However the overall bus contracts are only expected to be re-tendered in a couple of years.
Grant confirmed that there was information on usage and added that whilst there has been a “significant increase” in recent years it has not returned to pre-Covid levels.
He said there was a balance to be had about usage and demand.
It comes amid increased usage among younger people after the Scottish Government extended free travel to under 22s.
Whilst there were reports of empty buses Councillor Lyall said there were more than 20 folk on a recent 9.20pm bus on a Friday from Lerwick which passed through Tingwall.
She said she was “pleasantly surprised just how full it was”.
Development committee chairman Dennis Leask noted there was differing evidence around usage levels and said looking into the data was key.
But Armitage suggested that if there were more services to cater for people’s needs, usage could increase as it would “induce demand”.
Meanwhile Lerwick North and Bressay member Arwed Wenger said he received bus usage data last year which suggested services generally had at least some people on board.
During debate Shetland South member Robbie McGregor also called for disabled access on buses to improve, while Wenger raised the idea of being able to bring bicycles on board.
Figures presented to Monday’s meeting highlighted that there were increased bus contract costs to the council in 2022/23 following the re-tendering of several routes (£178,000 above budget) and indexation (£79,000 above budget).
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