Congestion ‘quietly’ costing Glasgow bus passengers £24m a year – study

Traffic congestion is “quietly” costing Glasgow bus passengers £24 million a year, a study has found.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow found delays on five key bus routes “significantly” stretched peak time journeys and make the service less reliable for people trying to access work, education, shopping and healthcare.

It found the city’s Pollokshaws Road is the worst pinch point for buses, with an estimated 375,577 passenger hours lost each year – valued at £7.45 million.

Pollokshaws Road and Maryhill Road were found to have the largest increases in travel times at peak periods – up to 40% longer in the afternoon compared with uncongested conditions.

Meanwhile, afternoon services on the Great Western Road were found to be particularly vulnerable to delayed departures.

Andrew Cullen, regional director for First Bus in Scotland, said: “This is about more than buses; it’s about Glasgow’s future prosperity.

“Congestion is quietly costing customers £24 million a year and holding back productivity.

“And this is just people using the bus in selected parts of the city, which shows the overall financial impact will be much higher.

“Every minute we save for passengers is a minute they can spend working, learning, shopping, or enjoying the city.

“It can also help to attract more people to think of using the bus.”

The report concludes measures such as dedicated bus lanes, bus gates, and traffic signal priority are proven from other cities to deliver substantial improvements.

Aberdeen’s bus network has seen punctuality improved by up to 12% and journey times cut by 17% since the introduction of bus gates in 2023.

The study found a similar level of time savings in Glasgow would be worth about £3 million annually.

First Bus also pointed to recent polling by the Confederation of Passenger Transport Scotland, which found 58% of people support bus priority measures such as bus lanes, bus gates and traffic light priority to combat congestion – with support being strongest in urban areas such as Glasgow.

Dr Fiona Crawford, from the University of Glasgow’s Urban Big Data Centre, said: “Our research shows the scale of time lost by bus passengers because of congestion on just five corridors alone is staggering.

“Losing over 130 years of passenger time is not just inconvenience, it’s a measurable drain on the city.

“Tackling these delays is not just a transport policy issue, it’s an economic strategy for the city.”

First Bus said a collaborative approach between bus operators, local authorities and transport organisations has been shown to “unlock” the potential of cities like Glasgow.

Mr Cullen said: “’We’ve already seen positive steps from Glasgow City Council, including improved traffic light sequencing.

“We are now calling on the council, Transport Scotland, and business leaders to go further in our shared vision for a more prosperous Glasgow and build on our partnership working to improve bus journeys across the city.

“By going together to unlock these routes, we can jointly unlock economic growth, cleaner air, and a more connected city.

“Carrying thousands of people every day to jobs, schools, healthcare, and leisure, buses are part of the heartbeat of Glasgow.

“By tackling congestion effectively and collectively, Glasgow can give its people back time, reduce employer costs, and unlock millions in economic gains.”