Bus passenger champion, Bus Users UK, has appointed Joan Aitken OBE FCILT, to its Board of Trustees.

A solicitor by profession, Joan is a staunch advocate for affordable, reliable transport and has dedicated much of her career to promoting transport equality. Joan became the first woman to hold the position of Scotland Traffic Commissioner from 2003 until 2019 when she was awarded an OBE for services to transport in Scotland and for road safety.

Until recently, Joan was Independent Chair of the Glasgow Bus Partnership Steering Group and in 2022 she was appointed Chair of Transaid, the logistics industries’ international development charity dedicated to safe, available and sustainable transport with focus on sub-Sahara Africa.

Announcing the appointment, Claire Walters, Chief Executive of Bus Users UK said: “It is a huge privilege to welcome Joan Aitken to our Board of Trustees. Joan is respected throughout the industry and is recognised as a champion of sustainable transport and the people who use it. Joan’s skills and expertise will make a vital contribution towards our mission, to make transport accessible to everyone.”

Joan Aitken said: “I am very pleased to join Bus Users UK as one of its Trustees. The bus user is overlooked in so much decision making and often treated as second division to the car or rail user. I want bus use to be valued and given the priority that so many people need.”