That coaches and buses are captured by emission control zones is a source of annoyance to many.
However, look at it from the other side. Some urban areas have buses that are obvious polluters. Perhaps the industry has unwisely allowed itself to be drawn into that position. But what cannot be said is that it has been backed into a situation where it receives excessive public riches.
Yet a flow of cash exists, either as subsidy, BSOG or concessionary reimbursement. That engenders a belief that operators must give something back, and that may be toeing the line with emission control zones, despite the benefits a full bus of any age delivers in that regard.
How coaches fit is different. They receive no public money and there is thus no feeling that their operators have a responsibility to give anything back.
Maybe that is where the reluctance of policymakers to cut coaches some slack comes from. There is little to no understanding of what coaches are and what they do.
Coach operators can help to change that by engaging with decision makers and politicians. When doing so, consider the stage beyond Clean Air Zones and Low Emission Zones. Quite likely it will involve restrictions on what vehicles can enter at all.
Paradoxically, that’s where the real benefits may arrive.
Rail dominates commuter flows into central London because there is often little alternative. If the industry plays the game and buys into its environmental obligations (whether you agree with them or not), eventually it may be able to claim a comparable position in other urban areas.
It’s a long game. But it may ultimately have a happy ending.
