6 days ago
Under-22s should get free bus travel, MPs tell Government
People aged 16-21 in Wales are entitled to a one-third discount on fares, and from next month will be able to travel for £1 per journey.
Parts of England offer discounted or free bus travel for young people, such as London, where 16 and 17-year-olds pay less than the full fare.
Pensioners are also entitled to free bus travel, which kicks in from age 66.
Bus fares in England for all passengers are capped at £3 until March 2027, with taxpayers subsidising any costs above that level.
The MPs' report described public transport as a 'major barrier to employment for young people', especially in places with limited services.
It added: 'In some areas, transport is restricting opportunity rather than enabling it.'
Building a lifelong habit
Graham Vidler, chief executive of bus company trade association the Confederation of Passenger Transport, welcomed the call.
'Bus operators wholeheartedly support initiatives to encourage more young people to catch the bus,' he said.
'Promoting bus travel to under-22s will help to build a lifelong habit, shifting the common assumption that everybody needs to learn to drive at 17.
He added: 'One option would be a £1 fare cap for young people, which would cost between £100m and £150m a year to implement across England.'
Department for Transport (DfT) figures show the number of bus journeys taken in England outside London fell by 22 per cent, from 4.6 billion in 2009 to 3.6 billion in 2024.
Labour MP Ruth Cadbury, who chairs the committee, said: 'Those most affected by unreliable or even non-existent buses include the young, who need them to get to school, college, university and their first jobs.
'Denying young people these experiences denies them their life chances. We call for a universal, free bus pass for all under-22s to equalise opportunity.
'While the Government's Bus Services Bill contains positive ideas, the transport committee's report says ministers should go further to get bums back on seats.'
Cutting the red tape
The bill, which is going through Parliament, will lead to an overhaul of buses, such as by giving all local transport authorities new powers to run their own services.
It will also cut some of the red tape involved in bus service contracts, including reducing the minimum period between local areas taking control of services and being allowed to start operations.
A DfT spokesperson said: 'After decades of decline, we're providing a record £1 billion in multi-year funding to improve the reliability and frequency of bus services across the country.
'Our landmark Bus Services Bill will protect routes and prevent services from being scrapped, bringing buses back into local control, and will put passengers at the heart of services.
'We have also stepped in to prevent a fare hike for passengers by extending the £3 fare cap until March 2027.'
