Aberdeen Airport has prioritised sustainable surface access as part of its initiative to achieve Net Zero emissions by the mid-2030s. A new electric bus was launched in June 2023, followed by introducing a second zero-emission bus in July. Currently carbon neutral, the airport uses a renewable energy contract. New electricity charging points for the buses were installed, utilising the same renewable energy contract. The electric buses can be charged in hours and are deployed around airport terminals and car parks. Passengers using the free drop-off zone in the long-stay car park can utilise the zero-emission buses to reach the main terminal.

Comparative data from 2022 indicates an expected emission reduction of 30 tCO2e per year. Despite only being in operation for a year, the two buses have collectively travelled more than 30,000 miles. The scheme has garnered significant political recognition, with North East MSP Liam Kerr and Aberdeen Donside MSP Jackie Dunbar visiting the airport to observe the buses. Additionally, a Scottish Government motion by Douglas Lumsden MSP commended Aberdeen International Airport for introducing two 22-seater zero-emission “near-silent” buses, preventing an estimated 30 tCO2e from being emitted by reducing its carbon footprint.

The North East Bus Alliance, consisting of Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Nestrans, First Aberdeen, Stagecoach Bluebird, and Bains Coaches, collaborates with Transport Scotland’s Bus Partnership Fund (BPF) team to implement new bus priority measures in the region as part of the Alliance’s Regional Bus Action Plan. In Autumn 2023, the first BPF infrastructure project in Aberdeen was completed, involving South College Street improvements and co-funded by Nestrans, a new city centre active travel and public transport priority loop. These enhancements have provided safer walking, wheeling, and cycling routes, facilitating more efficient bus travel in the area and improving accessibility to the bus station.

Previously, congestion around the bus station caused significant delays for buses accessing and departing from the facility. The introduction of the loop, equipped with bus gate enforcement cameras at restriction points, has reduced non-essential traffic while maintaining legitimate residential and business access. With the new priority measures, over 600,000 people each month are experiencing improved punctuality (over 95%) and faster journeys. According to operator data, bus journey times in the city centre have been reduced by up to 25%, equating to a 5-minute saving on a 20-minute trip.

The recent passenger survey reflects the positive impact of these changes, with 81% of respondents expressing satisfaction with bus services and 86% satisfied with journey times. These improvements have led to a nearly 10% growth in bus use since the implementation of the measures, indicating a shift towards bus travel as a preferred mode of transportation.

Amey’s primary environmental impact stems from its reliance on fossil fuels for delivering engineering design and operational services for Scotland’s South-West Trunk Roads Network, amounting to approximately 10 million litres annually. To advance its sustainability objectives, Amey focuses on reducing its emissions by accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and investing in EV infrastructure. The company aims for 75% of its car and van fleet to be fully electric by 2025.

In the Summer of 2023, Amey integrated 13 electric Volkswagen ID.3 vehicles into its fleet, investing £497,000. By December 2023, the fleet comprised 45 Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs), marking an 87.5% increase from December 2022. Collaborating with leasing partner Novuna Vehicle Solutions, Amey designed and installed a customised EV charging point solution at Transport Scotland’s Polmadie depot in Glasgow.

Throughout 2023, Amey prioritised fostering behavioural change among employees to reduce emissions. It refreshed and relaunched fuel-efficient driving guidance and conducted a Green Travel Survey. The company implemented a Green Driver Award scheme, rewarding the greenest drivers quarterly based on Masternaut data analysis. Adhering to its “EV First” policy, Amey prioritises electric vehicles for all new company cars. In 2023, EVs in the South-West fleet covered 99,487 miles, resulting in carbon savings of 62tCO2e compared to fossil fuel counterparts.

The recently completed cycleway by Edinburgh Council is part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) route 1, linking with other planned active routes around the city, such as the George Street and First New Town project and the Meadows to George Street as part of the Edinburgh City Centre Transformation. The project initially faced some controversy due to the reallocation of road space away from private cars and concerns about impacts on parking, congestion, and retail, particularly in areas like Roseburn. In response, the council launched the Rejuvenating Roseburn initiative, emphasising community cohesion benefits. This included events like a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Old Colt Bridge’s new public realm space and Dr. Bike sessions outside the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. The high level of support demonstrated, with 49% of respondents in favour and 11% opposed, highlights the positive benefits that had a ripple effect on stakeholders.

The scheme provides comprehensive and high-quality provisions, including a segregated cycleway to accommodate less confident cyclists and those wary of heavy traffic. Other features include improved pedestrian and cycle crossings, upgraded drainage, enhanced street lighting, cyclist and pedestrian priority at critical junctions, junction upgrades, contra-flow cycle lanes on one-way streets, raised tables at side road crossings, new cycle parking facilities, removal of redundant street furniture, carriageway resurfacing, adjustments to on-street parking, wider pavements, dropped kerb crossings, and continuous footways with raised tables over side roads.

Additionally, new landscaped areas with trees, grassed areas, and benches have been introduced, offering more space for people to relax and providing additional reasons to visit Edinburgh’s outdoor spaces.

In October 2022, the South Lanarkshire town of Strathaven saw the launch of the 3C Bus Service (Strathaven to Glasgow via Stonehouse), initiated by the local charity Climate Action Strathaven with funding from Paths for All. The service was introduced to address the limited public transport options in the area and to provide accessible transportation for those without access to a car or unable to use one. Operating five return journeys a day, six days a week, the service caters to commuters, students, and leisure travellers.

The 3C Bus Service has been positively received by the community, with significant support and feedback, including active engagement on social media platforms like Facebook, where users share information and advice regarding the service’s routes, stops, costs, and eligibility for travel passes. This initiative has notably impacted Strathaven, addressing a clear need for sustainable transport options.

The 3C Bus Service is just one of several local travel services Climate Action Strathaven offers. In addition to the bus service, the community group operates a bike shop providing repairs and reconditioned bikes, e-bike hire, an e-car club, and cargo bike hire. This comprehensive approach ensures that all community segments can access sustainable travel options. It’s evident that with such options available to all, achieving a mode shift away from private cars would be easier.

In 2023, First Bus Scotland continued its nationwide initiative toward achieving a zero-emission fleet by 2035. The Glasgow bus fleet now boasts over 200 emission-free vehicles following the delivery of 50 new electric vehicles to its Scotstoun depot in June 2023. Significant infrastructure work was completed at the Scotstoun depot to accommodate these new zero-emission buses, including installing 27 dual-headed rapid charging points. Similarly, in Aberdeen, 24 new electric vehicles were delivered in 2023, and 16 dual-headed rapid charging points were installed at Aberdeen’s King Street depot.

The introduction of 74 new electric buses in Glasgow and Aberdeen in 2023 has saved over 4,500 additional tonnes of CO2e per year as they replace older diesel buses in the fleet. With 249 zero-emission buses now in operation, First Bus Scotland saves over 12,000 tonnes of CO2e annually.

Since its inception in 2021, HITRANS’s cycle hire scheme, HI-BIKE, has experienced substantial growth. By 2022, it had expanded from 3 docking stations, 4 virtual docks, and 30 bikes in Inverness to 6 docks and 50 bikes.

However, in spring 2023, the scheme faced potential closure when its operator, Canadian bikeshare company Bewegen, declared bankruptcy. HI-TRANS intervened and took over operations, saving the scheme from closure.

In the initial months, HI-TRANS staff quickly learned to manage an eBike share scheme, covering back-office IT, bike redistribution and maintenance, customer service, and bike share technology. The scheme was only temporarily closed for one week while the sim card accounts were updated, as HI-TRANS promptly contracted an external mechanic to maintain the bikes and the scheme. This action helped retain some of the former company’s employees who had suddenly found themselves out of a job.

Plans are underway to expand the scheme within Inverness and install docks further afield, including Elgin. HI-BIKE is now the UK’s only publicly owned and operated eBike share scheme.

As of January 2024, nearly 1000 regular users have purchased 2700 recurring memberships, with 12,000 single-use users buying either a 3-hour pass, common among tourists and visitors, or a pay-per-ride pass. This totals almost 13,000 individual users since the scheme launched.

Over 220,000 km have been travelled, saving over 40,000 kilograms of CO2 compared to travelling by car. Users still have faith in the system’s longevity, as there has been a steady increase in membership purchases. Comparing 2022 to 2023, from May to September 2022, 210 monthly passes were purchased, whereas from May to September 2023, 419 monthly passes were purchased.

HITRANS has kept costs down, with users paying as little as £1.55 a week for an annual pass for unlimited rides and a completely 24 hour usable service. Additionally, they offer free equal opportunities to those who need it.

This success story reflects a genuine passion and commitment to active travel opportunities for all, facilitating a just transition to Net Zero.

Stagecoach introduced the UK’s first fully-electric city network in Inverness with a £10.8 million investment and allocated £40 million to North Scotland’s infrastructure by 2023. In East Scotland, £14 million funded 33 electric buses in Perth and Dunfermline, establishing two additional all-electric networks. West Scotland services now boast a 23% share of an electric fleet, supported by a £22 million investment in buses servicing local and semi-rural routes. Kilmarnock’s Service 1 showcases Scotland’s first rapid opportunity charge electric fleet.

The new fleet has reduced Stagecoach’s net carbon impact by 1433 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year compared to like-for-like diesel buses. Charging infrastructure is being installed across depots (Dunfermline, Perth, Ayr, Inverness, Kilmarnock), and Scotland’s first “pantograph” on-route charging point has been introduced at Kilmarnock Bus Station. This transition has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions, estimated at 12,700 tonnes of CO2 per year, assuming typical mileage and emissions factors.

Investing in charging infrastructure and zero-emission electric buses has created green jobs and upskilled Stagecoach’s current workforce, contributing to local economic growth and development. Since the fleet’s introduction, patronage has increased by 5.4%, furthering Stagecoach’s contribution to sustainable transport.

Zenobē, an EV fleet and grid-scale battery storage specialist, commenced operations in 2017. Presently, the company supports over 1,000 electric vehicles, capturing over 25% market share in the UK e-bus sector. It is the largest owner and operator of e-buses in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Zenobē partnered with McGill’s buses, leveraging Zenobē’s unique funding services to reduce the upfront costs of transitioning to electric buses. This collaboration enabled McGill’s to maximise its utilisation of government funding, leading to the introduction of 41 electric buses across communities served by its Greenock, Johnstone, and Inchinnan depots. The initiative involved full financing of vehicles and charging infrastructure, alongside Zenobē’s battery-managed service.

Drawing on its track record in designing and building charging infrastructure, Zenobē converted or expanded the depots to align with the electric fleet requirements. This included upgrading grid connections and integrating plans into depot designs. Consequently, McGill’s boasts the highest share of electric buses as a percentage of its fleet compared to any other Scottish bus company.

The ongoing collaboration between Zenobē and McGill’s enables mutual learning and growth, facilitating staff upskilling and the exchange of project experiences. In November 2023, McGill’s announced the achievement of 7 million zero-emission miles travelled by their electric fleet, saving 7,889 tonnes of CO2 emissions. It would require planting 788,917 trees across an area equivalent to 1,949 football pitches to match this environmental impact.