http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Bus latest en Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:57:08 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=28#post-386149 Sun, 18 Oct 2026 17:52:25 +0000 LaidBack 386149@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Announcement by Scottish Government to publicly regulate bus routes has not gone down well with McGill's (Flix operator along with other brands)</p> <p><a href="https://news.stv.tv/politics/swinney-compared-to-dictator-over-plans-to-bring-buses-under-public-control" rel="nofollow">https://news.stv.tv/politics/swinney-compared-to-dictator-over-plans-to-bring-buses-under-public-control</a></p> <p>On Radio Scotland this morning their spokesperson pointed out that McGill's has been judged best operator in the UK and therefore Scotland. As a local company it will defend any attempt to 'confiscate' its business. They are threatening court action it seems.</p> <p>Their spokesperson did point out that ideas like the Bee Network in Manchester are very expensive. BBC asked him if the £2 fare was costing them (McGill's) money but should have asked if passenger numbers were up(!)<br /> Would seem certain they are with Scot Gov patching in the difference (aka shadow fare). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=28#post-386137 Fri, 16 Oct 2026 15:11:42 +0000 chdot 386137@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>This UK city is officially one of the best in the world for public transport </p> <p>Edinburgh came fourth in Time Out’s global ranking, ahead of Zurich, Vienna and Seoul</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://archive.ph/gQH40" rel="nofollow">https://archive.ph/gQH40</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=28#post-386042 Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:07:05 +0000 chdot 386042@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>City’s buses and trams both named best in the UK </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/britains-best-buses-and-trams?r=3e3735" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/britains-best-buses-and-trams?r=3e3735</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=28#post-385840 Tue, 15 Sep 2026 06:48:30 +0000 chdot 385840@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Giving bus passengers priority is not anti-car but best use of road space, says bus firm boss </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/giving-bus-passengers-priority-is-not-anti-car-but-best-use-of-road-space-west-coast-motors-boss-colin-craig-9037591" rel="nofollow">https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/giving-bus-passengers-priority-is-not-anti-car-but-best-use-of-road-space-west-coast-motors-boss-colin-craig-9037591</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=28#post-385825 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 18:51:29 +0000 bakky 385825@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>‘Everything is being done to accommodate Lothian Buses, but nothing is being done to accommodate the community’ - Norman Rees</blockquote></p> <p>Wait til someone tells this guy who's riding on Lothian's Buses... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=28#post-385824 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 17:41:15 +0000 Frenchy 385824@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In case I wasn't the only person who parsed "Corstorphine East and West Craigs" as "Corstorphine East, and West Craigs" and was confused...it's really "East Craigs and West Craigs".</p> <p>Boundary map is here: <a href="https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/35998/corstorphine-east-and-west-craigs-boundary-effective-28-march-2025" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/35998/corstorphine-east-and-west-craigs-boundary-effective-28-march-2025</a></p> <p>The boundaries on community councils changed (relatively) recently. It's quite possible that prior to that change, Mr Rees's Community Council covered the Manse Road area. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=28#post-385823 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 17:05:42 +0000 Stickman 385823@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Which community is Mr Rees representing? His last appearance was objecting to the Manse Road bus gate; now he’s objecting to West Craigs residents having a bus service. </p> <p><blockquote>“Due to community concerns, we the community council conducted a survey - we polled 972 members of the community and 70 per cent were against the bus gate, and those in favour would prefer it to be peak times only.</blockquote></p> <p>I’m sure this poll was conducted properly and in no way was self-selecting. </p> <p>No surprise to see the Lib Dems supporting their core demographic (angry middle class drivers)</p> <p><blockquote>“I am sympathetic with the fact Lothian Buses say they will not put a service in here unless there’s bus prioritisation. I just think there are other, better ways of doing that will mean we are not shutting off road safety projects.”</blockquote></p> <p>So will Kevin Lang state what these “other, better ways” are? And will he explain how they will allow buses to magically skip past the queues of traffic on Turnhouse Road? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=28#post-385821 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 14:31:40 +0000 chdot 385821@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p> ‘Everything is being done to accommodate Lothian Buses, but nothing is being done to accommodate the community’ - Norman Rees </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-roads-controversial-bus-gate-to-go-ahead-despite-claim-it-could-leave-residents-with-only-one-road-out-of-west-craigs-9023902" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-roads-controversial-bus-gate-to-go-ahead-despite-claim-it-could-leave-residents-with-only-one-road-out-of-west-craigs-9023902</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=28#post-385646 Sun, 30 Aug 2026 09:41:48 +0000 gembo 385646@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I will be cycling to the barbers tomorrow, sometimes I catch the bus. You can park there all day if you keep an eye out for law enforcement and move the vehicle when they arrive saying sorry officer I was just loading some Curlers into the shop. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385637 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:42:10 +0000 Stickman 385637@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@pringlis - exactly the same misunderstanding arose during the whole Roseburn Terrace shambles. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385636 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:40:43 +0000 pringlis 385636@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lot of misunderstanding there over the difference between Loading and Parking. You already can't park there between 0730 and 1830 Mon-Friday and 0800-1330 on Saturdays. Stopping to go and get your hair cut, or order and wait for some lunch isn't loading. When loading you have to be "continuously moving items".</p> <p><img src="https://i.ibb.co/4wPnyPQj/Screenshot-2026-08-27-at-11-33-34.png"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385635 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:12:29 +0000 Stickman 385635@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2026/08/edinburgh-businesses-band-together-against-councils-7-7-7-bus-lane-plans/" rel="nofollow">https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2026/08/edinburgh-businesses-band-together-against-councils-7-7-7-bus-lane-plans/</a></p> <p><blockquote><br /> “There’s three barbers on this route. A barber is walk-in trade. How do you have walk-in trade if nobody can come along and get parked?”</blockquote> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385625 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:06:33 +0000 gembo 385625@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That shop owner so really wants to keep parking outside their shop they are unable to perceive reality </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385624 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:03:46 +0000 Morningsider 385624@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>Look what they did at Roseburn, Haymarket and Corstorphine. They have killed high streets.</blockquote> That right, aye?</p> <p>I must have imagined all those businesses, folk, and traffic when I passed through all these places in the last few days - and where on earth did that coffee and cake appear from in Roseburn? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385616 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:02:34 +0000 Frenchy 385616@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Loading will still be allowed directly outside the flower shop, albeit only outside peak hours (which are 0700-1000 and 1600-1900 through the week, 1100-1400 at weekends).</p> <p>I have no idea if any of the vehicles which are parked in the bus lane outside her shop every time I go past belong to her or not, but I am very much looking forward to there being fewer of them so that I can just get to work without feeling endangered. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385615 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:00:54 +0000 Stickman 385615@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@urchaidh - you are mistaken, it’s not a busy section of road apparently:</p> <p><blockquote> This is not even a busy stretch of road. But their changes will lead to more congestion, more pollution and more idling by motorists.</blockquote></p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/new-edinburgh-12-hour-bus-34522534" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/new-edinburgh-12-hour-bus-34522534</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385614 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:27:31 +0000 urchaidh 385614@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looking forward to seeing how this goes. This section along London Road at Wolseley Terrace is particularly appalling - ostensibly two lanes for traffic but one always rendered useless by parked cars. Weekends, when I tend to use the bus, are particularly bad. Good baked tattie shop, though I doubt many people drive there. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385612 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:15:21 +0000 gembo 385612@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Those shops are doomed like all the other shops that haven’t shut down when owners couldn’t park outside. For free. Doomed I tell you. Doomed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385607 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:19:42 +0000 neddie 385607@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When I volunteered for Cargo Bike Movement, we often used to transport flowers in the large "box" cargo bikes. No big deal </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385606 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:09:26 +0000 Arellcat 385606@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It wouldn't all be about car parking, would it? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385605 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:42:52 +0000 chdot 385605@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Edinburgh 7-7-7 bus lane trial could force shops to close warn traders </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-7-7-7-bus-lane-trial-could-force-shops-to-close-warn-traders-8943915" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-7-7-7-bus-lane-trial-could-force-shops-to-close-warn-traders-8943915</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385385 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:36:42 +0000 chdot 385385@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“<br /> Restore bus stops at Leven Street, Edinburgh </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.change.org/p/restore-bus-stops-at-leven-street-edinburgh?" rel="nofollow">https://www.change.org/p/restore-bus-stops-at-leven-street-edinburgh?</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385138 Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:29:05 +0000 chdot 385138@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/no-plans-to-reinstate-bus-stops-on-north-bridge-when-road-reopens-to-traffic-8813496" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/no-plans-to-reinstate-bus-stops-on-north-bridge-when-road-reopens-to-traffic-8813496</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385079 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:27:19 +0000 chdot 385079@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“<br /> Breaking news: Princes Street closed 'into August'</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghminute.com/breaking-news-princes-street-closed-into-august/?ref=the-edinburgh-minute-newsletter" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghminute.com/breaking-news-princes-street-closed-into-august/?ref=the-edinburgh-minute-newsletter</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385044 Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:58:31 +0000 LaidBack 385044@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“<br /> The firms said if its £4.3 million bid had been successful, it would have purchased vehicles from ailing bus builder Alexander Dennis, in the hopes of securing Scottish jobs.</p> <p>The company has now taken the matter to the Competition Appeal Tribunal in a bid to overturn the decision and force the process to be reformed.<br /> Sandy Easdale hit out at the process, saying: “The move would have boosted Scottish jobs and enabled it to remove more diesel vehicles from its fleet across Scotland.<br /> “The largest share – £13 million – was awarded to coach firm Ember to buy 100 Chinese electric coaches to expand its existing network, which would not result in any diesel vehicles being replaced.</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/26272413.mcgills-take-legal-action-scottish-government/" rel="nofollow">https://www.thenational.scot/news/26272413.mcgills-take-legal-action-scottish-government/</a></p> <p>As regular bus users we 'enjoy' the confusion of sometimes having four ways to get from A to B. </p> <p>At Perth at 17.30 last Thursday we had a choice of the following routes to Edinburgh / Haymarket. </p> <p>1. 17.36 ScotRail train, change at Stirling, wait and take train at 18.30 arriving 19.13 Haymarket</p> <p>2. 17.45 Citylink M90 to Queensferry St (no show / no info at bus station or phone)</p> <p>3. 17.50 Flix (McGills) via Broxden then direct to Ingliston Park and Ride and Edinburgh bus station - changed onto tram at P&amp;R arriving 19.25 Haymarket (friendly driver and quiet bus)</p> <p>4. 17.59 Ember e-bus with stops in Fife, arriving 19.09 Haymarket (Delayed over 30 mins due to road incident on A9) Bus leaves from stop between bus station and railway station (!)</p> <p>We chose Flix as quite comfortable and on time (early!). Plus free with our passes. Next time we might take Ember as it overtakes Flix and the tram. Flix Wi-Fi wasn't working on our bus but otherwise good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-385011 Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:28:15 +0000 chdot 385011@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://archive.ph/2026.07.07-060140/https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/inside-ember-the-electric-coach-operator-luring-drivers-from-their-cars-in-rural-scotland-8779564" rel="nofollow">https://archive.ph/2026.07.07-060140/https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/inside-ember-the-electric-coach-operator-luring-drivers-from-their-cars-in-rural-scotland-8779564</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-384992 Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:06:17 +0000 Tulyar 384992@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ember's principals Pierce &amp; Keith are a refreshing change from old school bus managers</p> <p>They use many different applications for modern systems, with the most relevant being the request stop systems so that the coach driver gets a manifest displayed on the cab binnacle en route, and only stops when there are passengers getting on/off</p> <p>I travelled from Glasgow to Kinross one Saturday, to have breakfast with a LeJog ride &amp; ride to Perth with them</p> <p>I was on 03.19 coach to Dundee &amp; changed at St Madoes (05.00-05.30) the coach was well filled with U22 bus pass users (not driving home?) &amp; one guy got off at Auchterader at 04.30 for a 1½ mile hike from the A9 coach stop</p> <p>I'm pressing Ember to call at Gills Bay and JoG road end (by Youth Hostel) as they cannot get use of the Citylink coach stand on Scrabster Harbour, whilst there's no decent coach service to Gills Bay for the faster &amp; shorter Pentland Ferries service (3 per day) to St Margarets Hope</p> <p>Hoping that Ember services to Carlisle and Newcastle start soon? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-384969 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:38:54 +0000 MediumDave 384969@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Re £2 bus fare cap - my partner and I were quite surprised to travel Inverness&lt;-&gt;Scrabster with bikes for 8 quid return for the pair of us on a recent holiday (Ember). </p> <p>I rather agree that middle-class types like us going on holiday should not be subsidised to such an extent, or if we are, we should be taxed more to compensate! </p> <p>On the return journey quite a lot of passengers on that bus were schoolchildren who got on and off along the stretch around Invergordon as the service happened to pass through at a convenient time. Interesting dynamic for an express coach service </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-384966 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:32:44 +0000 Tulyar 384966@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Where to start?</p> <p>East Lothian has engaged with <strong>HiyaCar</strong> to offer the council's pool car fleet to local residents as a pseudo car club that gets the fleet in use when it would otherwise be idle outside the Council's working times </p> <p>I've been pressing some folk at Lothian Buses to include a car club membership deal which has sound data from the annual <strong>CoMoUK</strong>surveys to show that car club members make 4-6 times more use of the bus or cycling for local trips </p> <p>Ultimately I'm hoping that I can eventually get a large service provider to deliver a <strong>Total Mobility</strong> deal that I was working on in 1996 and have delivered my own personal hacks to achieve. I'd love to also look at a small <strong>Mobility Makeover</strong> feature or video showing what could be achieved using existing systems but bursting those silos</p> <p>In 1996 the vision was to use a single portal (the ITSO bus pass) to hire bikes, hire cars &amp; get almost any public transport 24 hr/day this 2008 video brings it to the next level of a phone app. I'm enjoying my own hack with its slight inconvenience of having to bridge across various providers but I am enjoying 24hr access to <strong>new electric cars</strong> with 3 all within a short walk of my front door which so far this year has cost me <strong>under £200 TOTAL</strong></p> <p>Here's the video ... from nearly 20 YEARS ago </p> <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/h52/48590678631/" rel="nofollow">https://www.flickr.com/photos/h52/48590678631/</a></p> <p>The other detail for bus services that work for smaller settlements is the <strong>Medice cura te Ipsum</strong> we already have for Strathaven (who run their own express coach service hourly to Glasgow 6 days per week) or Glenfarg (who run a Section 22 permit community bus operation with 8 buses (large motor cars with 16 seats or fewer) that are driven by local people with regular Class B driving licences (&amp; MIDAS certificates) who can be paid or volunteer with the local bus services tailored to local needs. They also run the local school bus contract which provides a revenue stream to support the operation, and an on demand late night bus that meets the Ember coach at the Kinross request stop at midnight to get people home after a night out in Edinburgh</p> <p>Tons that can be done but I need to get this going with some key players</p> <p>PM &amp; I'll try to spot you when I'm next on CCE</p> <p>PS per the <strong>£2 single fare</strong> bus cap... last I checked an annual Lothian Buses Ridacard cost barely £700/year that's <strong>£2 per DAY for unlimited bus trips</strong> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16209&page=27#post-384963 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:31:45 +0000 chdot 384963@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Children aged five to 11 receive a card with no picture, which only gives access to free travel, and can be used up until the day before their 12th birthday. </p> <p>From then until the day before they turn 22, they can use the Young Scot NEC (National Entitlement Card) which is a valid form of photo ID as well as a bus pass and rewards card. However, this must be applied for in advance. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/midlothian-girl-walked-school-alone-34077919" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/midlothian-girl-walked-school-alone-34077919</a> </p>