The Green Party is poised to unveil an ambitious initiative today, advocating for complimentary bus rides for individuals under the age of 22.
This proposition emerges despite the Labour government’s reversal on a similar plan last October, citing financial constraints that rendered the initiative unaffordable.
Party leader Zack Polanski is anticipated to reveal this policy during his visit to Sheffield on Saturday. He will argue that providing free bus passes to young people will facilitate their access to employment and educational opportunities.
Although the Labour government dismissed the Transport Committee’s August recommendation due to budgetary limitations, the Green Party contends that the policy will be “self-financing.” They argue that increased bus usage stimulates economic benefits.
Moreover, the party asserts that free bus travel for those under 22 would enhance service accessibility in rural regions while reducing both traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
Currently, free bus travel for under-22s is available in Scotland, and in London, under-18s enjoy complimentary bus access with discounted rates for some individuals aged 18-25. Various bus companies also offer reduced fares for young passengers.
They pointed to research by KPMG which estimated in a report that bus passengers spend £39.1billion annually in local businesses, over 2.2million commuters use buses to get to work, which in turn generates £72billion each year in collective income.
Their analysis suggested that every £1 invested in bus services would yield an economic benefit ranging from £4.55 to £5.
Zack Polanski said the policy would be ‘self-financing’, despite the Labour government calling free bus rides for under-22s ‘unaffordable’ last year
The Green Party argued it would improve access to work and education for under-22s, especially those in rural areas
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: ‘Young people are increasingly shut out of employment and training by the cost-of-living crisis, which often hits the youngest the hardest.
‘Green councillors elected in May will be using their influence to implement this scheme in their areas and we will be applying political pressure at a national level for a scheme recommended by the transport select committee last year to be made real.
‘Free bus travel for the young is part of our mission to make hope normal again.’
The Green Party is also promising to get rid of time restrictions that are currently in place for disabled persons’ bus passes so that it would be valid 24hrs, as well as guaranteeing free travel for the elderly – also with extended hours.
In August last year, the plan for free under-22s bus travel was put forward by MPs in the Commons Transport Committee.
But the Labour government halted the go-ahead, arguing it was ‘unaffordable’ and there was no money that could be allocated to the scheme.
Responding to the government’s decision, committee chair Ruth Cadbury accused the Department for Transport of ‘lacking in ambition’.
‘Throughout our inquiry, we heard about the consequences of poor connectivity,’ Labour MP Cadbury said, according to the BBC.
Other proposals include making the disabled person’s bus pass unrestricted and extending benefits for elderly people riding buses too
‘Young people are unable to get their first jobs or take exhausting journeys to reach school or college.
‘Older and disabled people feel isolated and depressed and high streets are starved of customers.
‘It is hard to shake the feeling that an opportunity may be missed, particularly to improve services in rural and underserved communities.’
Since January 2022, everyone in Scotland aged between five and 22 has been entitled to free bus travel.
It comes as the number of bus journeys taken in England has dropped in recent years, while fares have risen faster than inflation.
Experts told the Transport Committee that the bus sector’s contribution to the economy declined by around £8.9billion between 2011 and 2023.
