War on car backfires as fewer Scots take the bus

A GREEN crusade mounted by the Nationalists has failed to persuade motorists to give up the car as soaring numbers of Scots turn their backs on public transport.

Over five years the number of people using buses has plummeted while sales of petrol and diesel cars continue to rise.

Although sales of electric cars rose slightly they still account for less than one per cent of traffic on the roads – despite the SNP’s plans to ban some petrol and diesel vehicles from city centre areas.

Transport Scotland figures show the number of people using buses dropped 10 per cent in five years. In contrast car use has risen by 5 per cent from 2011-12, and by 2 per cent in the last year.

Over the same period the number of buses in use fell by 16 per cent, while fares rose 5 per cent.

Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Jamie Greene said the Scottish Government had ‘failed miserably’ on its mission to increase the use of public transport.

He added: ‘With bus fleets dropping in size and fares rising it is not a huge surprise that people are choosing to take alternative modes of transport.’

While bus use fell, the number of people using Scotland’s railways rose by 16.2 per cent over the five years. However last year they only rose by one per cent.

The report also showed that while there had been a small increase in the number of people buying electric or hybrid vehicles, many continue to shun the SNP’s radical plan to ban petrol and diesel cars.

More than 50 per cent of vehicles bought last year were diesel. It comes as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon plans to implement the first low emission zone in Glasgow by the end of this year.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Mike Rumbles said: ‘This Government claims to want to lead the way in tackling climate change yet they are stuck spinning their wheels.

‘We need urgent action and real investment now in bus and rail services and active travel to achieve our climate goals.’

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said the Government was committed to tackling air pollution but admitted the fall in bus use was ‘concerning’.

‘Stuck spinning their wheels’