Hopes that bus journey planning should become easier

PEOPLE should find it easier to plan bus journeys in Shetland from next year, a transport official has predicted.

Transport policy and projects officer Robina Barton said a new app is being developed through transport partnership ZetTrans, as well as a dedicated website with a journey planning facility.

There is also work ongoing regarding providing real-time bus information for passengers.

These developments, supported by funding, could be in place by the end of the financial year.

The update came after discussion at Wednesday’s ZetTrans meeting over bus usage.

It was mentioned – not for the first time – in the meeting that the Scottish Government’s £2 bus fare cap trial “has not made much difference at all” in terms of numbers of people getting on board.

SNP councillor Robbie McGregor said he was surprised by this and questioned if it needed more publicity.

He said a bus trip between Lerwick and Sumburgh for £2 was a “bargain”, and added that “I can’t for the life of me understand why this isn’t used more”.

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ZetTrans member Colin Marsland then highlighted how there are two aspects to transport policy – price and availability.

He said if price is not impacting usage, then access may be the issue.

Barton said one of the long-standing issues is that even when there is a bus service that exists, people do not always know about it – with the communication of sometimes complex timetables a hurdle.

She said the proposed website with journey planning should help with this.

The meeting also heard that work is ongoing with the NHS and the SIC to try to understand current travel behaviours of employees, which could then lead to staff being provided with alternatives.

“I do feel quite strongly in the next six to nine months it should be easier for people to figure out what they can actually do with the bus network,” Barton said.

The £2 fare cap was first trialled in the Highlands and Islands, with the Scottish Government now aiming to roll it out nationwide.