THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DRIVERS

IN SCOTLAND

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COUNCIL MUST FACE UP TO POLLUTION BY THE BUS FLEETS

It was with interest, but no surprise, I read that buses were largely responsible for the rise in Aberdeen's air pollution levels (Evening Express, May 13). A comparison between modern cars and modern buses highlights how filthy buses are.

Compared with petrol cars, diesel buses produce 68 times the quantity of oxides of nitrogen and 37 times the quantity of particulates.

Diesel car comparisons cut these multiples roughly in half.

Yes, buses can carry more passengers.

But how many regularly carry enough passengers to compare favourably with cars on a pollution per passenger basis? Hardly any I suspect.

Of course, the city council's response is to blame cars for the bus emissions, claiming that cars prevent the buses from flowing freely and car users cause congestion.

Yet bus lanes have been provided to help buses flow freely.

And they do - at the expense of other traffic that can't use them at peak times. Needless congestion results.

In short, bus lanes feed congestion, buses pollute more per passenger than cars do and the council simply sticks its head in the sand.

Simon Tonks

 

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