Campaigners fighting to maintain a bus route from Dumfries to Edinburgh are encouraging people to give their views on the service.
The Stand Up for Our Buses group launched their questionnaire to understand people’s thoughts of the 101/102 bus and its future after it was given a stay of execution until March, 2023.
The survey received more than 600 responses in the first two days after it launched last week. People, whether they are a frequent bus user or not, have until Friday, October 21, to submit their thoughts.
One of the campaigners, Ian Reid from West Linton, said: “It would appear to be getting used more and more. The bus is really, really busy and seems to be as busy as it was before Covid-19 if not busier.
“We’ve rolled out an online survey for people from Dumfries to Edinburgh and everywhere in between to fill out.
“We got it commissioned by a professional company so that it’s neutral, independent and doesn’t have leading questions so that it generates information that the powers-that-be can use.
“We didn’t know what the response was going to be but in two days there’s been 620 responses which is phenomenal and shows that this is a bus service that really matters.
“People are willing to sit down and give a bit of their time to share their opinions on how they use it and what it would take for them to use it more.
“It seems to be striking a chord right along the route. We’ve had responses from Dumfries, Moniaive, Auldgirth and Moffat. It’s not just a Biggar, West Linton and Edinburgh thing.”
Stagecoach West Scotland was due to scrap the route in August after the overall cost of the contract was set to rise by 87 per cent to more than £500,000.
The increase in price, coupled with “extremely low” passenger usage, were factors in the decision.
But that was met by fierce backlash from commuters and locals along the route and the service was extended until the end of March.
A petition to save the service received more than 8,000 signatures before it was closed and local politicians also weighed in on the situation.
Ian, 59, added: “We’re wanting to do this in a productive way. We’re at pains to make sure that it doesn’t get into an angry, hostile blaming of everyone. It’s not easy for councils and bus providers. There’s not a simple straightforward solution. But let’s be responsible rather than just bumping our gums.
To complete the survey please go to https://bit.ly/101-102-buses.
