Improve Glasgow’s buses to tackle toxic air

It may be easy to overlook the power of the humble bus but they’re a vital tool for cleaner air in our cities. There are major issues with Glasgow’s transport system that we urgently need to fix to tackle toxic air in the city. Maddy from the Clean Air team explains why the fight for better buses in Glasgow is a fight for clean air too – and how you can get involved. 

It may be easy to overlook the power of the humble bus. Beyond getting us from A to B, buses symbolise something greater – they represent a cleaner, healthier and more connected society. 

According to data from the Scottish Government, central Glasgow has the lowest rates of car ownership in Scotland. People who don’t own a car rely on buses to make journeys across the city to work, school, to attend appointments, and to visit friends and family. They’re a lifeline that empower people of all backgrounds, by providing access to employment, independence and connection. 

And on top of all this, buses are a vital tool in the fight for cleaner air. 

How the humble bus helps tackle air pollution 

We know that cars are a major source of pollution in our cities and towns. The more cars on the road, the more toxic the air that we breathe becomes. The average bus can carry between 30 and 50 passengers – just think about how many cars one bus can take off the road! What’s more, many of Glasgow’s buses have been upgraded to reduce harmful emissions and some have even gone electric, offering an even cleaner alternative to cars. 

Profit over people 

Unfortunately, Glasgow has long been the victim of a crumbling bus service, hitting the city’s most disadvantaged communities the hardest. Some of the problems include: 

• Cuts to services. Over 1,200 bus routes in Scotland were cancelled between 2007 and 2023, as they were deemed not profitable enough – and Glasgow is no exception. With routes continually under threat, communities are being left with fewer options to get around. 

• Fare hikes. At £2.65 for a single journey with Glasgow’s main bus operator, a bus ride in Glasgow is a whole £1 more expensive than travelling across London.  

• Poor connectivity. Glasgow’s public transport network is owned by a variety of different companies and bodies, with no single body overseeing the trains, subway and bus. This means separate tickets are needed which can push up the cost of journeys and makes it harder to get around. 

The Campaign for Better Buses Week of Action 

With an unreliable, disconnected and expensive bus network, our hope of reducing the number of cars on Glasgow’s streets hangs in the balance.  

Urgent change is needed. The people of Glasgow need a bus service that they can rely on - a service that allows them to ditch their cars in favour of a cleaner mode of transport. 

During the Better Buses Week of Action, we’ll be calling on decision makers to allow councils to take more control of the bus network, with enough funding to transform the system. With the right resources in the right hands, we can take the first steps to improving Glasgow's buses for all. 

Come together to demand for better buses 

We hope you’re feeling motivated to get involved! To help you, in the first week of October we’ll share a campaign toolkit that will equip you with everything you need to campaign for better buses, including some ideas of what you could do in your local area. This could include lobbying local politicians and promoting the campaign on social media. We’ll also share some tips for taking your activism even further.

By taking action you’ll join activists across the country, coming together to fight for better buses.  

campaigns@asthmaandlung.org.uk.  

Together, we can fight for better buses and cleaner air for Glasgow.