April 07 2026
New polling commissioned by the Confederation of Passenger Transport Scotland shows that a majority of people (55%) believe congestion is a problem on Scotland’s roads, with strong support for measures to prioritise buses and improve journey times.
There is also clear public backing for action. The polling shows that 58% support bus priority measures such as bus lanes, bus gates and traffic light priority, compared to 22% who oppose them.
Congestion is not always recognised as the underlying cause of wider issues affecting bus services, including delays and reliability. Around 36% of respondents report experiencing congestion-related delays either frequently or occasionally, underlining the real-world impact on journeys.
The findings also highlight regional differences. In urban areas, particularly Glasgow and Lothian, concern about congestion is higher and support for bus priority measures is strongest. In areas with more rural populations, where services can be more limited, priorities differ — but reliable journey times remain critical to maintaining connectivity.
Crucially, the polling shows that addressing congestion could help unlock greater bus use. More than half of respondents (55.8%) say they would be more likely to use buses if they were more reliable, and 41.7% if journey times were faster.
The findings follow the publication of CPT Scotland’s manifesto, Shaping the Future of Bus and Coach in Scotland, calling on all parties ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections to take action to tackle congestion and improve journey times.
Across Scotland, around 900,000 bus journeys are made every day, yet the average bus travels at just 11.3mph. Analysis shows that increasing bus speeds by just 8% could add £565 million to Scotland’s economy each year.
Commenting on the findings, Paul White, Director of CPT Scotland, said:
“Buses and coaches account for almost three quarters of public transport journeys in Scotland – they are a green, affordable and convenient alternative to travelling by car. This polling shows clearly that people recognise congestion as a real problem on our roads, and that there is strong public support for measures to address it.
“That is why tackling congestion is the top priority in CPT Scotland’s 2026 manifesto. Simple, practical measures like bus lanes, bus gates and traffic light priority can make a real difference to journey times. Faster buses mean more reliable services, lower operating costs, and the ability to run more frequent routes. This would benefit passengers, support local economies and help make public transport a more attractive choice. We are urging all political parties to back measures that will get buses moving and unlock the full potential of the network.”
CPT Scotland’s manifesto sets out five priorities for the next Scottish Parliament, with tackling congestion and improving journey times at its core, alongside supporting rural services, accelerating the transition to zero emission vehicles, reviewing funding, and improving safety for passengers and staff.