Improving Bus Travel Information: What Our Members Told Us

Transport Scotland recently asked for views on what information passengers need when travelling by bus — and what details should be required by law.

At Disability Equality Scotland, we know that accessible public transport is a top priority for our members. That’s why we ran a survey to gather your views and submitted a response earlier this month.

Our survey focused on:

• Which bus providers the rules should apply to

• What basic journey information should be included (e.g. ticket prices, bus stops)

• What accessibility information disabled passengers need

• What real-time updates are most useful (e.g. live bus times, available spaces)

What Our Members Told Us

Clear rules for all services
Nine out of ten members said the rules should apply to all local bus services, buses that follow fixed routes, and community transport.

Essential journey information
Almost 90% of people said passengers should know:

• What services their ticket is valid for

• What zones are covered

• Where the bus stops

• Where to buy tickets and how to pay

Accessibility is often missing
Many members felt important accessibility details are often left out. They wanted clear information on:

• Whether the bus and bus stops are accessible

• If there’s a ramp

• The number of available wheelchair spaces

Real-time updates matter
Transport Scotland suggested that bus companies provide live updates on:

• Timetables

• Service disruptions

• Available seats and wheelchair spaces

• On-board facilities

Three out of four members strongly agreed. The rest also supported the idea.

We have now submitted your feedback to Transport Scotland and will continue to press for better, more accessible travel information.

Thank you to everyone who took part.