Bus travel in and out of Paisley has been branded amongst the worst in Scotland.
The call was made by a top sustainability expert who has researched bus transport for Our Scottish Future, a think-tank run by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Dr Pete Wood has examined the entire Scottish bus network and concluded that Paisley - the country’s biggest town - is poorly served.
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He said: “Travel around Paisley is amongst the worst in Scotland.
“To get to the North Paisley business parks from only six miles away, such as the Bridge of Weir, the drive takes 20 minutes.
“By bus it can take an hour, needing changes at Johnstone and Paisley High streets, or even at Port Glasgow.
“The price varies wildly, with the government’s Traveline travel planner suggesting between £7 and £8.20, but often unable to plan the cost in advance.”
Dr Wood added: “People can’t afford to take these buses. Not everyone can afford a car - so what is a low paid worker supposed to do?
“Scotland deserves change, as our report this week makes clear.”
The report recommends a new flat £2 standard bus fare for an urban journey below 7.5 miles will attract passengers back to the bus.
Dr Wood said: “It gives commuters a boost to their bank balance, and gives shoppers and families back their freedom to travel. In turn, government coordination – effectively nationalising the timetable - will give operators the support they need to improve journeys.
“To bring down the cost even further, we’re calling on the UK and Scottish Governments work together to purchase a new electric bus fleet. Good for the planet, good for creating well-paid manufacturing jobs.
“Boosting buses is the quickest way to slash our carbon emissions and to do something about the cost of living.”
By electrifying the fleet, and getting more people out of their cars, it estimates that an effective bus strategy could slash Scotland’s total transport greenhouse gas emissions by a third.
The paper says the current model of extensive concessionary fares for some and sky-high prices for others is creating a two-tier system with a free service for some, but a worse service for most.
It also warns that unless procurement is stepped up radically, it will take 10 years to move from diesel buses to electric buses on current trends.
The chair of Our Scottish Future’s Economy Commission, former Scottish Green party leader Robin Harper said bus travel needs to be fair.
He said: “The only and best way to get a fair and accessible transport system is for all of us to sit round tables in local and national government across the UK and produce a national transport plan that will work for all providing hundreds of jobs.”
