NUS Scotland submission

Bus Regulation (Scotland) Bill

NUS Scotland welcomes the overall aims of the
proposed Bill. Good public transport is necessary for
social inclusion and ensuring frequent, reliable and
affordable bus services for students is an important
factor in improving access to education. We believe
the proposals could benefit students and others in
Scotland by improving bus service provision.
NUS Scotland supports the overall aim of the proposed Bus Regulation (Scotland) Bill. We believe
greater regulation will place a greater emphasis on social need, as opposed to profits, in decisions
about the provision of bus services.
In particular, we believe a lack of reliable, convenient and affordable public transport options can be
a barrier to individuals accessing, or remaining in, education in Scotland.
Many students are on fixed and low incomes and increasing public transport costs can have a
significant impact on their finances and ability to travel. This is a particular issue for students
coming from more deprived communities, and those living in rural areas.
The question of local access to education, and how public transport makes this possible, is
increasingly important as a result of the regionalisation of the college sector. Larger, regional
colleges may mean students are required to travel, or travel further to access their course of
choice, and it is vital that a lack of public transport to do so is not a further barrier to education.
Creating greater powers for transport authorities over how bus services are delivered would allow
them to take into account the transport needs of students (in addition to other vulnerable groups)
and to ensure that the services provided support access to education.

General aims of the proposed Bill

NUS Scotland supports the proposals overall aim to increase transport authorities control over bus
services in Scotland by giving them greater powers to regulate how bus services are delivered.
We believe that greater regulation would allow authorities to ensure that the bus services provided
in their local area meet the needs of local people, and in particular, support social inclusion for key
vulnerable groups. We believe that protecting access to education for students through bus service
provision would be a key part of this. Many students are on fixed and low incomes and may have no
alternative means of travel to their place of study.

NUS Scotland submission

Bus Regulation (Scotland) Bill

Ensuring the availability of useful, reliable and affordable bus routes for students through the use of
these regulations could therefore build upon ongoing efforts to widen access to education for those
from deprived backgrounds and benefit students from all backgrounds who have the ability to learn
new skills in education, but lack the means to travel by any other means other than bus transport.
More specifically, NUS Scotland supports the proposals recommendations to give transport
authorities the power to improve the frequency, sustainability and affordability of bus travel though
such means as bundling profitable and non-profitable provision together, setting a floor on the level
of service that the operator must provide, and using local authority buses to close gaps in private
provision.
We believe these new powers could have a positive effect on efforts to widen access to education by
improving the frequency of bus services for students, particularly in rural areas. Such powers would
also protect against the loss of services which may be useful to students but less profitable to bus
operators.
NUS Scotland also backs the proposals recommendations for new powers to be given to Traffic
Commissioners to impose significant financial penalties on bus operators who fail to meet the terms
of their franchise, and for transport authorities to be given the ability to require compensation when
operators abandon franchise agreements. Many of our members count on public transport to get
them to and from campus, part-time jobs, work experience and apprenticeships.
NUS Scotland believes that financial penalties, if used robustly when bus operators fail to provide
agreed service, could have real benefits for students by increasing the reliability and improving the
long-term sustainability of bus services.
Reliable and sustainable bus services will be crucial for students, or prospective students, who need
to factor transport arrangements into their education plans. More consistent and dependable bus
services could also reduce reliance on cars and benefit the environment and individual wellbeing.
Finally, NUS Scotland recognises that the needs of those who use public transport vary widely, and
that transport authorities should be given flexibility to direct bus service provision in ways that best
address local and regional circumstances.
Bus provision for students in urban areas may need to prioritise frequent off-peak and night
services, while in rural areas an increase of service from one bus a day to two may provide a
necessary change to address the needs of students there.
NUS Scotland welcomes the proposals consideration of service agreements over the setting of fares
as part of the new regulations and we would be keen to see this area developed further in any
future proposals.
We believe this could allow for consideration of the different needs of different groups of bus
services users in setting fares and providing payment options. Affordability of transport is a key
issue for students and we would be keen to see measures which could create more affordable fares
for students, end student age restrictions, and allow more flexible payment options for students.

1 Papermill Wynd
McDonald Road
Edinburgh EH7 4QL
t 0131 556 6598
e mail@nus-scotland.org.uk
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The advantages of the Bill

Frequency and socially useful services
NUS Scotland believes that there are advantages for students in the creation of powers for
transport authorities to set a minimum level of service which bus companies must provide, and for
those companies to be required to take on unprofitable but necessary, or socially useful routes
when they are awarded contracts on profitable routes.
This would help to support students to access education in both rural and urban areas, by ensuring
there are bus services available to meet their needs.
In rural areas and the islands, this means services that are not just centred around serving the
needs of tourists, but those that benefit the student and wider local community.
Scott McNally, President of Sabhal Mr Ostaig Students' Association (CnO), illustrates the specific
issues that face students in Skye and Lochalsh.
Services are fitted round the school runs, and not on connecting with rail, ferry and long
distance bus routes, resulting in long waits for connecting services.
The lack of evening and Sunday services causes particular inconvenience to students
traveling to Sabhal Mr Ostaig for short and weekend courses.
Many students have found themselves stranded in Broadford and Kyle of Lochalsh
resulting in taxi fares in the region of 25-40.
And while the comparatively short two-mile walk from the ferry terminal at Armadale
is manageable to most able-bodied students, it is unrealistic to expect anyone to walk
even this distance with heavy luggage and musical instruments, particularly in the
unpredictable Skye weather.
Scott says that the absence of bus service in smaller settlements in the Sleat peninsular, such as
Tarskavaig, Aird and Drumfearn, also has a knock-on effect on other aspects of student life, such as
housing.
(This absence) prevents SMO students from being able to rent the properties made
available during term-time by seasonal residents, with further strain on what little
property that lies within walking or cycling distance from the college.
The issue of frequency of bus services is not just one for rural students. As noted by the University
of Strathclyde Students Association (USSA), it is one that affects student in urban areas as well.
Student timetables do not typically follow the pattern of a normal working week. This
is especially the case at exam time, when students may need to stay in the library
until the early hours of the morning and still require a safe, reliable way to get home.
NUS Scotland believes the recommendations found in the proposal could address the lack of
service frequency raised by CnO and USSA, as well as other areas where services may be
insufficient, or insufficiently frequent, to meet student needs.

1 Papermill Wynd
McDonald Road
Edinburgh EH7 4QL
t 0131 556 6598
e mail@nus-scotland.org.uk
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Reliability and sustainability

The proposal recommends a power for transport authorities to impose financial penalties on bus
operators who fail to provide the agreed service.
NUS Scotland believes there is an advantage to this proposal in addressing the failings by some
operators to provide reliable and sustainable services. NUS Scotland believes that quality bus
service must be a service that students can count on.
As illustrated in the case studies within the proposal, cuts to services can have a real effect on the
livelihoods of those who rely on these services for employment, which includes students. Equally,
service cuts and disruptions can be damaging to students education.
The issue of reliable services is certainly one that affects rural areas as well, and has an effect on
students in those areas.
Scott provides an example of how unreliable service in the Highlands and Islands can throw up
additional barriers for students who need to plan ahead to use public transit.
He says that bus service improves during school holidays, when extra services are introduced, but
also results in confusion with timetables.
They show a mash of services that run some days but not others and travellers are
often found waiting for connecting services that dont happen, resulting in missed
long-distance connections.
New timetables are always published last minute, or sometimes retrospective to
service changes. This makes it impossible to plan travel in advance in the run up to
spring and autumn timetable changes.
The reliability and sustainability of transport in urban areas is no less an issue. The high cost of
student housing in some areas of Scotland results in many students commuting from their homes to
urban college and universities.
These students, as is pointed out in evidence given by the University of Strathclyde Students
Association, are more likely to use public transport than their own cars. Equally, many students on
low incomes will be unable to afford the costs of owning and running a car.
Although we would like to see more quality, affordable student housing, NUS Scotland believes that
using public and active transport, rather than cars, to travel to campuses has benefits beyond cost
saving.
We believe that the use of public transportation or active transport reduces emissions and has
benefits for students that extend far beyond their studies, and we would like to see transport
authorities have the power to do more to improve the environmental impact of transport in
Scotland.

1 Papermill Wynd
McDonald Road
Edinburgh EH7 4QL
t 0131 556 6598
e mail@nus-scotland.org.uk
w nus.org.uk/scotland

Affordability
As the proposal sets out, service agreements between transport authorities and bus operators could
cover fares. We believe that this would be a desirable result of the proposed legislation, and we
would be keen to see this issue explored further in developing any future proposals.
A key area of concern identified by students is the affordability of bus services, and public transport
more widely. Many students are on fixed and low incomes and transportation to and from college
and university is a key participation cost for many students.
Increasing costs of public transport, as highlighted in the proposal, therefore have a significant
impact on many students finances, and may prevent students from attending college or university
as often as they would like to, or prevent them from attending at all.
We believe that one way to make bus transport more affordable for students is for the proposals
requirement of minimum service to include an element that provides discounts to students,
regardless of their age or time of travel. Currently bus operators may operate restrictive terms and
conditions for student discounts, beyond their status as a student.
We also believe that there should be changes that allow flexibility of payment on discount tickets.
As highlighted by the University of Strathclyde Students Association, as well as research into travel
costs conducted by the Glasgow Students Forum, the upfront costs necessary to purchase multiweek passes can be difficult for students to afford, particularly for those from more deprived
communities.
NUS Scotland supports recommendations that would lead to greater use of direct debit or pay-asyou-go top-up cards, an idea that has also been suggested by focus group respondents to the
Government Social Research survey Understanding why some people do not use buses (which is
highlighted in the proposal).
We believe that regular, manageable monthly payments can make transport more affordable to
those who do not receive a large lump-sum support payment at the beginning of their studies, such
as many college and university students.

Conclusion
NUS Scotland welcomes the proposed legislation, and supports the overall aim to increase transport
authorities control over bus services in Scotland.
We believe that by giving transport authorities greater powers to regulate how bus services in
Scotland are delivered, and giving them the tools to assist bus companies in providing the best
provision possible, we can ensure that bus services are improved, and better meet local needs.
Improved bus transport can also help reduce reliance on cars, benefitting the environment and
individual wellbeing.
We feel that public transport, including buses, plays a key role in supporting students from across
Scotland to access education. In this way we feel that bus regulation can we can help widen access
to education for students from urban and rural areas, and reduce the cost of participating in
education, by making transport more affordable.

1 Papermill Wynd
McDonald Road
Edinburgh EH7 4QL
t 0131 556 6598
e mail@nus-scotland.org.uk
w nus.org.uk/scotland