Scots are increasingly turning their backs on the bus and relying on their cars for travel, new figures have revealed, fuelling the row over a workplace parking tax.

The latest Scottish Transport Statistics showed people took five million fewer bus journeys last year, a fall of 1.5 per cent, and 42 million fewer than five years ago, a fall of 7.6%. Overall car traffic rose 2.4% last year and was up 7.2% in the last five years.

The number of commuters going by car or van to work rose slightly to 67.7% last year, while the number taking the bus fell to a record low 
of 9.8%. 

The number of licensed motor vehicles in Scotland hit a record 3m last year, with 72% of households having at least one car for private use, and 29% having two or more.

Traffic also hit a record high, with 48 billion vehicle kilometres travelled on Scotland’s roads in 2017 – an increase of 3% in a year and 7% more than in 2007. 

The number of car and van trips delayed by congestion rose from 11.7% to 12.8% last year.

The figures prompted a fresh row over SNP-Green plans to let councils charge employers a workplace parking levy (WPL) in an attempt to cut congestion.

WPL advocates said over-reliance on cars showed the need to change people’s behaviour with the tax, while critics said it showed the scale of how many people would be “punished”. 

In Nottingham, the only council in the UK to set a WPL, employers with more than 10 staff spaces are charged £415 a year for each one, and many pass on the cost to employees.

Theresa May used the charge to attack the SNP at Prime Minister’s Questions, saying voters had been “betrayed” by the WPL and higher Scottish income tax bills.

The release of the figures also coincided with MSPs on Holyrood’s rural economy committee warning they needed more time to examine the WPL plan.

The minority SNP administration and the Scottish Greens agreed to tag the tax on to an existing Transport Bill at Holyrood in a deal on the 2019/20 budget.

However, there has been no economic impact analysis or public consultation of it.

Convener Edward Mountain said the committee was “concerned” the change to the Bill would be “significant” and needed time for evidence and scrutiny.

Referring to the transport statistics and the WPL developments, LibDem MSP Mike Rumbles said: “Rather than accepting the continuous decline in bus travel, Scottish Government ministers should be taking an active role in encouraging people onto buses.

It is not good enough to punish motorists who have no other option but to drive. The proper way to encourage bus use is to improve frequency, reliability, convenience and fares.

“The Transport Bill was supposed to profoundly reshape Scotland’s transport system. Instead it will be remembered for an SNP-Green attempt to plunder driver’s pockets.”

Green MSP John Finnie defended the WPL, saying: “These figures show another stark increase in car usage, resulting in ever more congestion and air pollution. 

“Bold action must be taken to address the thousands of deaths attributable to poor air quality every year. Continued inaction is irresponsible, and those who would deny local authorities the powers necessary to save lives should seriously reflect on their position. 

“I am delighted to see Scotland’s railways become ever more popular. One only wonders how many journeys they could host if services were delivered by a competent operator.”

In total, 525m public transport journeys were made in 2017/18, of which 74% were by bus, 19% by rail, 5% by air and 2% by ferry. 

Two-thirds of commuters said they travelled to work by car or van, 12% walked, just under 10% went by bus, 5% took a train, and 3% cycled.

Passenger journeys on ScotRail increased 4% to 97.8m last year, with an increase of 17.4% in five years, despite recent poor performance.

Scotland’s airports attracted 28.8m passengers, up 7.1% last year, and up 29.8% up over five years, leading to calls for the SNP to abandon a planned tax cut for airlines.

Ferry passengers were also up 1.8% to 10.3m in 2017/18, with a five-year rise of 5.7%.

Buses were the only form of public transport to experience a decline, continuing a trend that resulted in 100m fewer bus trips last year than in 2007/08.

Bike use also declined, down 6% in five years, despite government efforts to encourage more cycling and walking as part of a healthier lifestyle.

The statistics also showed record numbers of elderly people holding a driving licence.

Almost half those aged 80 and above (47%) hold a full licence, up from 35% a decade ago.

The increase was sharpest among women over 80, up from 21 to 34% since 2007.

The percentage of men over 80 with a driving licence rose from 61 to 66% over the period.

Since the SNP came to power in 2007, bus journeys have fallen 20% from 487m to 388m.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth blamed rising bus fares - up 11% in real terms in five years - and falling government grants to bus operators for the plunge.

He said: “While the SNP hand hundreds of millions of pounds to Abellio to mismanage our railways, there has been a complete failure to invest in bus services, which provide vital routes for deprived communities and older, more vulnerable people.  

“It is little wonder bus usage has plummeted under the SNP and our bus network is being dismantled route by route. It is time for public transport to put passengers before profit.”

Gina Hanrahan, of WWF Scotland, said: “Transport is Scotland’s biggest source of damaging climate emissions and these figures are firmly going in the wrong direction.

“Air travel and car travel are at their highest ever recorded levels, while bus use has fallen and cycling has seen a 6% drop over five years.”

Gavin Thomson, Air Pollution Campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “Years of short-sighted decisions by politicians and planners have meant cars dominate our transport system at the expense of accessibility, public health and our climate.

“The continuing freefall of bus passenger numbers is a wake-up call to our politicians: we need to fundamentally change our attitude to buses.

“It needs to be seen as a public service, necessary to improve air quality, congestion, and ensure everyone can get where they need to go and participate fully in their community.” 

Green MSP Patrick Harvie said the SNP should drop its £180m plan to halve air passenger duty in light of the dramatic increase in passenger numbers at Scottish airports.

He said: “The Scottish Government’s absurd plans to give a tax break to the highly polluting aviation industry should be scrapped. In the face of the climate crisis, Ministers should not be focussing their efforts on placating the only transport industry already free of fuel duty.”

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Although the majority of public transport trips are made by bus, I remain concerned bus use continues to fall - a trend we see across the UK. We are continuing to spend over £250m on a year to support our vital bus industry, working with operators to keep fares at affordable levels and providing free bus travel to older and disabled passengers.

“Additionally, the forthcoming Transport Bill will empower local authorities by providing options to improve bus services in their areas, giving them a greater choice in how to deliver a sustainable bus network for customers.”