Chapter 1
1. Framework Aims
1.1 The vision for Bus Park and Ride fits with bus policy in Scotland more generally as set out in the Bus Action Plan Moving into the future: An Action Plan for Buses in Scotland". This envisages a comprehensive bus network where sustainable bus services are delivered to a high quality, and which move people efficiently to promote economic growth and social inclusion and to encourage modal shift. Bus Park and Ride can contribute significantly to this positive vision: good quality sustainable sites in the right places can provide appropriate public transport solutions to address, for example, local and national environmental objectives and meet customer needs.
1.2 The Bus Action Plan recognised the substantial investment made by the Scottish Government and by Authorities and bus operators in recent years. The aim remains to seek the maximum return from the investment made by each sector, and in this case from Bus Park and Ride. In many instances that is likely to be most effectively achieved through working in partnership.
1.3 The Framework, therefore, is not prescriptive, but recognises that Authorities and bus operators will wish to work together in identifying the appropriate options to the particular transport problems and opportunities of their area. In broad terms it aims to highlight the opportunities for Authorities to take full account of the possibilities for Park and Ride in addressing transport problems and opportunities and, where Park and Ride emerges as an appropriate option in an area, it aims to:
- encourage joined-up thinking about how Bus Park and Ride can fit with other bus quality measures and other transport strategies and solutions;
- promote partnership working between Authorities and bus operators to maximise the potential from Bus Park and Ride;
- encourage innovative and imaginative thinking amongst Authorities and bus operators about how Bus Park and Ride can be developed and contribute to the wider aims of modal shift and sustainable transport;
- recognise the evolution of Local Authority and Regional Transport Partnership roles and responsibilities; and
- highlight the positive inclusion of Park and Ride in the Strategic Transport Projects Review ( STPR) and in a number of Regional and Local Transport Strategies.