The majority of Scottish voters support coach and bus priority measures, according to a new poll commissioned by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Scotland.
The research comes as CPT Scotland lists speeding up buses as one of its top priorities for the next government ahead of the Scottish election on 7 May.
The poll found that 58% supported measures such as bus lanes, bus gates and traffic light priority, compared to 22% who oppose them.
It also indicated that 55% believe congestion is a problem on Scotland’s roads.
As expected, the data showed differences regionally, with the issue particularly noted in urban areas such as Lothian and Glasgow.
The polling found that 56% said they would be more likely to use buses if they were more reliable and 42% if journey times were faster.
CPT’s manifesto for the elections, published last autumn, listed tackling congestion first among the five key issues.
The average bus speed across Scotland is just 11.3mph and analysis has shown that increasing bus speeds by just 8% could contribute £565 million to the annual economy.
Paul White, Director of CPT Scotland, says: “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.”
