[SGP News] GREEN BUSES NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER SERVICES
From: greencomms@scottish.parliament.uk GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release 26 September 2012 GREEN BUSES NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER SERVICES As the SNP reannounced money for another handful of hybrid buses, the Scottish Greens have challenged other parties to work together for bolder reform of Scotland's bus system to improve standards across the whole bus fleet and provide a truly integrated public service. (1) Patrick Harvie has been running a campaign to improve Glasgow's buses through the website www.betterbuses.org Patrick Harvie MSP said: "I will welcome each and every shiny eco bus to Glasgow but what we really need is better services. The SNP seem reluctant to rethink the rules on buses, but we can't continue to rely on a market that isn't working for everyday bus users. "Every bus should be clean inside and out, and we need tougher regulation of all bus vehicles to demand this. We need more dedicated road space to allow buses to get through our towns and cities and far more say for the public on routes that work in the real world. "And crucially we need affordable fares to help people out of their cars and onto clean and efficient public transport." Notes 1. The Greens took part in a Scottish Government debate on the Green Bus Fund. The Green amendment (not selected for debate) reads: As an amendment, insert at end "; believes that the budget proposals will contribute to the cost of a few dozen hybrid buses, which should be seen in the context of a national fleet of over 5,000 vehicles; notes however the findings of the European Environment Agency’s report, Air Quality in Europe - 2012 report, which demonstrates that Glasgow is the most polluted city in the UK in terms of nitrogen dioxide; recognises that road traffic remains the major cause of Glasgow’s poor track record on air pollution, and calls on the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council to work together on a range of measures such as investment in public transport services, lower fares, tougher regulation of vehicle standards, greater dedicated road space to allow buses to move more smoothly through the city centre, electric charging points for private and commercial vehicles, safer walking and cycling routes and demand management." Jason Rose Head of Media Scottish Green MSPs The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh EH99 1SP 0131 348 6360 07500 792995 @greenmsps _______________________________________________ SGP News mailing list. See http://lists.scottishgreens.org.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/news for information and list options. List owned and maintained by the Scottish Green Party. Queries and problems: news-owner@lists.scottishgreens.org.uk list-unsubscribe: news-request@lists.scottishgreens.org.uk?subject=unsubscribe _______________________________________________