What are the parties’ plans for improving bus travel?published at 13:50 BST
13:50 BST
You have been getting in touch with questions on the issues that are important to you ahead of the Scottish Parliament election. Our team of experts are providing the answers.
What will the government do to tackle the problems surrounding bus travel in major cities? Max McGibbon, Glasgow
David Henderson, BBC Scotland News correspondent, says:
Three quarters of all public transport journeys made in Scotland are by bus yet buses get a fraction of the political attention and capital investment that rail receives.
But at this election, bus travel is high on the agenda because of widespread concern about the rising price of tickets, fragmented bus networks, and reduced services.
Some parties blame the deregulated bus network – brought in by Margaret Thatcher in the ’80s.
They pledge to turn that around, through a franchising system, as used in London or Manchester.
Image source, SNS
Labour, the SNP and Lib Dems all promise this type of change, to help under-served areas.
Both the SNP and Scottish Greens promise a £2 nationwide bus fare cap, to help passengers with the cost of living.
The Greens are committed to free bus travel for all. They also want a publicly-owned bus network, a bit like Lothian buses – the UK’s largest municipal service.
The Tories don’t propose franchising or fare caps – but pledge extra funds for councils, to keep bus routes open and restore services where they’ve been lost.
Reform and the Greens pledge to back and invest in bus corridors in Scotland’s major cities – which would give buses priority over other vehicles.
Integrated ticketing – to allow easier travel across bus, train, tram and subway – also features in the Conservative, Green, Labour and Lib Dem manifestoes.
So it’s clear there’s a growing mood for change to this key form of transport.