Survey and evidence open to public ahead of Transport Bill scrutiny

3rd July 2018

Improving bus services, combatting pavement and double parking, and delivering smart ticketing are all issues on which people from across Scotland are being urged to give their view on to Holyrood's Rural Economy & Connectivity Committee.

A survey covering these issues has been launched by MSPs on the committee in addition to the formal call for evidence, ahead of their stage 1 scrutiny of the Scottish Government's Transport (Scotland) Bill.

There are six parts to the bill:

  1. enforcing low emission zones in Scotland to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This would restrict driving in certain areas by road vehicles which fail to meet emission standards;
  2. improving bus services by giving local transport authorities more options, which could include partnership working with operators, local franchising or running their own buses;
  3. introducing smart ticketing to create a national technological standard across public transport in Scotland;
  4. encouraging responsible parking, by prohibiting double parking and pavement parking to improve safety for road users and pedestrians;
  5. strengthening the role of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner (SRWC) and improving the regulation of road works;
  6. giving regional transport partnerships more financial flexibility, and allowing ministers to vary the membership and structure of the Scottish Canals Board.

Committee convener Edward Mountain MSP commented: “Issues such as low emission zones for vehicles, pavement and double parking, and smart ticketing, have the potential to impact on how people travel around Scotland, and we want to find out whether these proposals are the right ones for local communities.

“We know that transport and connectivity are of utmost importance to people across Scotland, and the committee wants to hear the views of the public and stakeholder organisations to help shape how the committee and the Parliament responds to the Scottish Government’s proposals.”

Click here to access the survey, and here to view the call for evidence. The deadline for responses is Friday 28 September 2018.