15 February 2008
Bus wardens scheme expanding
SPT has expanded its Bus Wardens Scheme into South Lanarkshire.
Following a hugely successful pilot in Paisley, SPT’s Service Compliance Inspectors have now started work on behalf of South Lanarkshire Council and the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland. They will ensure that bus companies comply with industry regulations.
SPT’s wardens will target "cowboy bus operators" in a bid to improve the standard of bus provision.
In total, SPT has now recruited nine wardens to operate in both Paisley and South Lanarkshire.
Vice-Chair of SPT, Councillor Davie McLachlan, said: "We want to make sure bus operators are doing what they’ve agreed to do. Bus services have to improve if we are to encourage more people to use them.
"The bus wardens will ensure operators run the services they have registered with the Traffic Commissioner and to the standard required.
"There are a number of congestion hotspots in South Lanarkshire, including Keith Street in Hamilton, so the wardens will be targeting those areas to improve traffic flow."
Councillor McLachlan said companies complying with the rules have "absolutely nothing to worry".
However, he added: "The rogue operators who are infringing conditions will have to raise their game or pay the price."
Among the areas where action can be taken to enforce compliance are operators running to timetable, ensuring clear information on bus destinations and ownership of buses.
They must also comply with Traffic Regulation Conditions.
Wardens in Renfrewshire have actively monitored the services in Paisley town centre since November.
In that time, they have moved on 709 buses found sitting at bus stops longer than they should have.
They have also recorded 126 instances of buses not displaying the correct information and moved on 165 buses parked illegally at bus stops.
The Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, Joan Aitken, praised SPT for showing priority to Strathclyde's bus users.
She said: “More people depend on bus travel in Strathclyde than any other area of Scotland.
“I hope this initiative will spell the end to poor performing operations in the west of Scotland.
"I want to know that bus operators are obeying the law, not breaking it.
"Most of all I want the reliability of buses which come when they are meant to come."
SPT’s Director of Bus Operations, Eric Stewart, said: "There is a clear public perception that quality must improve and, while the majority of private operators attempt to provide a good level of service, standards across the Strathclyde area are not consistent.
"What we are trying to do here is make sure that passengers will be guaranteed first-class service no matter which bus operator they use."
ends