YOUR VIEWS: Buses must be reliable and easy to use
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Readers on bus services, city centre transport and pollution levels.
Buses must be reliable and easy to use
Readers are absolutely right to point out that Inverness continues to suffers from an unreliable and inadequate bus service.
The shortage of drivers is having a profound affect on services.
In the short term, it is doing little to promote the use of public transport.
The new electric buses represent an enormous investment in our city and is hugely welcome – but they will only be well used and appreciated if services are accessible, easy to use and reliable.
This isn’t currently the case.
Compounding the issue is the poor communication from Stagecoach to the public.
Last minute cancellations with little information given to the public in the media or online is frequently unhelpful and often infuriating.
In these present freezing conditions, it is leaving some of societies most vulnerable (including the elderly and those on low incomes) feeling like second-class citizens.
The public deserves better.
As a way to immediately improve passenger relations, I’d argue that anyone stranded for more than 30 minutes at a bus stop due to cancellations should have their alternative transport arrangements (ie a taxi ride) reimbursed.
Airlines are obligated to financially aid passengers when services are cancelled or delayed, as are rail services.
Yet bus companies have no such obligation – why?
James Rorison
Pinewood Court
Inverness
Business leaders hit out at traffic proposals
Opposition to Highland Council plans aimed at cutting traffic on a major city centre street is growing, as business leaders warned it would be “disastrous” for trade. They were reacting to proposals approved by councillors in November that could see almost all traffic barred from Academy Street.
“It’s a nice idea on principle, but in practice it would be devastating for the few businesses that are left!” – Carol Clark
“It is a shame that the council will simply ignore any initiative coming from local business or citizens as they have always done. This project may look nice but it will be the nail in the coffin for the high street.” – Eduardo Noga
“Say bye bye to the town centre. It started to die the minute they pedestrianised Ingles Street and High Street, but cutting it to 2000 vehicles a day or 4000 a day would mean the total wipeout of Inverness. Get rid of the bollards, clean the streets, cut the rents and get all the empty shops filled and get more companies to come here.” – Catherine Gilchrist
“Catherine Gilchrist, maintaining it as a through route for traffic isn’t going to clean up the street and it certainly won’t improve the worst air quality in the Highlands.” – Glen Wallace
“Glen Wallace, a very well informed Wee Birdie told me that the air quality ‘analysis’ was done exactly where the buses pile out of Farraline Park. This Academy Street ‘decision’ reeks of dodginess.” – Charles Bannerman
“Inverness needs to start acting like a city instead of the small town syndrome it seems to have developed. Allow out of town developments, get electric buses (that’ll cut a lot of the pollution in the centre) leave the centre to the tourists as you seem to be aiming it for. Get some good park and ride services in place for all year round. Get some joined up thinking instead of solving one issue in one place but moving it onto another area.” – Gillian McPherson
Dispute over city centre pollution levels
Academy Street was also in the news over pollution levels recorded there. While those levels were below targets, Friends of the Earth said Inverness was not doing enough to combat the situation compared with other Scottish cities. Highland Council, however, defended itself, saying the figures were not up to date and did not take account of the new route allowing buses to leave the bus station by Rose Street rather than Academy Street, or the fact that Stagecoach is about to introduce an all-electric fleet for city services.
“After spending a week in England I love the lack of air pollution in Inverness.” – Mandy Ingram
“Synchronised traffic lights would help!” – Jennie MacKenzie
“Let’s turn the town centre into a play park for kids to pensioners with swings, roundabouts etc. At this time only the Co-operative and Marks sell groceries in the town centre. I say it’s a town with a village mentality. We all use the retail parks where you don’t pay for parking. Problem solved.” – Richard Paxton
“This simply suits the agenda. It’s interesting that the same readings haven’t been taken or reported at the roundabouts surrounding the city centre and beyond. These are all heavily congested with vehicles idling for much longer than on Academy Street. Yes it’s busy but the traffic undoubtedly flows more smoothly than in the areas immediately outside the city centre. Is pollution acceptable elsewhere?” – Kim Corbett
“Kim Corbett, Blame the science! Academy Street needs pedestrianised. The priority need to be the citizens of the town rather than car drivers. Far too many cars driven by many people who could and should be either walking or cycling.” – George Hamilton
“I hope this is not the beginnings of a 15 minute city!” – Kenny Matheson
“Kenny Matheson, I think it is. They are planning 20mph zones and of course the pedestrianisation of the town centre, so it seems only a matter of time.” – Susie Beveridge Robertson
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