Buses need more space on Glasgow’s roads, according to the boss of the city’s biggest operator.

Studies have shown bus speeds in Glasgow are an average of around 10 miles per hour and a fraction of that in the city centre where it can be at walking pace.

Ensuring quicker journeys is seen as key to enticing more people to use the bus and particularly to get people to switch from car to bus.

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The boss of First Bus, Glasgow’s biggest operator running services throughout the city, said buses need a greater share of the city’s road space to make it a more attractive option and increase passenger numbers.

Glasgow Times:

Speaking at an event at the SNP conference in Aberdeen, Duncan Cameron, chief executive of First Bus Scotland, said redesigning roads will make the biggest difference.

HE said bus priority measures, like bus lanes and bus gates, where cars are not allowed to pass through, were good.

Glasgow has bus gates at various points in the city centre, including Union Street, Hope Street, Oswald Street and Stockwell Street.

Bus lanes operate in parts of the city centre and on several main road arteries into the city centre.

Mr Cameron spoke about the benefits of public transport and how they can be improved.

He said: “So often transport is politicised.

“Public transport is not just important to address climate change. Studies show how much impact public transport can have on accessibility for jobs and education.

“The approach doesn’t need to be an anti-car approach, the approach needs to be an anti-car dependency.”

On congestion which also frustrated motorists he said improving public transport benefits all road users.

He said: “Bus gates improve congestion. I’ve yet to meet anyone who is in favour of congestion.

“The way to reduce congestion is to promote public transport.”

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And more road space, he said was the key.

“With bus gates, we are seeing improvements to journey times. It is only when we provide road space does it allow us to offer better journey times.

He cited Infrastructure improvements like traffic light priority and bus lanes as examples of what will help speed up journeys.

Paul White, director of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, which represents bus operators said: “As infrastructure improves we should expect the same from bus operators and services.”

He said that councils needed to bring people with them when introducing spaces for people which prioritises roads for walking, wheeling and cycling over cars.