Living in East Renfrewshire is truly wonderful, with its vibrant communities and beautiful landscapes. However, for many residents like me, travelling across the area can be frustrating due to inadequate public transport. This is an issue that deeply affects our daily lives, restricting our ability to commute conveniently for work, education, and leisure.

East Renfrewshire is one of the council areas that has not seen much investment in its transport infrastructure. This lack of focus on improving public transport options leaves us with limited connectivity, often forcing us with limited transport links. Not only does this increase traffic congestion, but it also makes transport less accessible and less environmentally friendly.

Factually, East Renfrewshire's public transport lags behind neighboring areas like Glasgow, which boast comprehensive bus and train services. Residents in areas such as Eaglesham which are greatly affected, no links especially from Newton Mearns to Barrhead are particularly affected, with infrequent bus services that make it difficult to plan commutes efficiently. According to a recent survey, over 40% of residents expressed dissatisfaction with the current public transport options, highlighting the need for urgent improvement.

East Renfrewshire Council had introduced a Maidenhill bus route last year, although this route is particularly empty and not a lot of passengers use it. The bus 38 that goes to Glasgow city centre from Newton Mearns only serves not a lot if the bus does appear, with lots of issues and only departing from Giffnock and the other from Newton Mearns not in service. With the new train station at an Barrhead train station there is desperately a need, Balgray there should be links to other places such as Newton Mearns at The Avenue and Barrhead. This was briefly talked about but having this option in place is invaluable. Other communities like Eaglesham need this essentially. You should be able to travel through your local area, it’s a different story in South Lanarkshire where buses are more reliable and they help communities out where bus services are not available and try and build a strategy so people can access banking services and travel within their own locality.

Improvements could include increasing the frequency and reach of bus and train services, particularly in outlying areas. Implementing a modern public transport infrastructure with digital access to routes and schedules can greatly enhance the usability and appeal of public transport. Additionally, investing in sustainable transport options, such as bike lanes and electric buses, can further enhance connectivity while contributing to environmental goals.

We urge the East Renfrewshire Council to prioritize addressing these transport issues, as improving our public transport infrastructure will greatly benefit the community by reducing traffic, lowering emissions, and providing equitable access for all residents.

Please join us in raising awareness and advocating for these necessary changes. Sign this petition to call on the East Renfrewshire Council to take immediate action to improve our transport systems for a better, more connected future for everyone.