Edinburgh launches bus lane trial to improve reliability

A trial to improve bus reliability and journey times begins in Edinburgh on Monday, 12 October. The initiative involves extending bus lane operating hours between Milton Road East and London Road to run from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week.

Currently, bus lanes operate only during weekday peak hours (7:30am to 9:30am and 4pm to 6:30pm). The trial aims to address increasing delays, noting that journey times on parts of the route have risen by 22% since 2019. Lothian Buses identified the number 44 service as particularly affected by reliability issues outside of traditional peak periods.

Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, Transport and Environment Convener, stated the goal is to make bus travel a more attractive and reliable alternative to cars. Data and stakeholder feedback gathered during the trial will determine if these extended hours should be made permanent.