A cross-party committee of MPs has called for free bus travel for people under the age of 22 in England, arguing it would help them access work and training in communities that are otherwise cut off. The Transport Committee's report warns that current plans to devolve bus powers to local authorities are insufficient to reverse the long-term decline in bus services, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas.
The report highlights a 20% drop in passenger numbers across England since 2009 and an 18% reduction in rural bus routes since the Covid-19 pandemic. It cites evidence that more than half of small towns are now effectively 'transport deserts' for those without a car. The committee recommends extending the existing English national concessionary travel scheme—which currently provides free bus travel to pensioners and people with certain disabilities—to anyone under 22, at any time of day, starting with a pilot scheme.
The MPs argue that such a move would support access to work and skills for young people and help embed long-term public transport use. They also call for a national policy for buses in England within 18 months, with a clear vision for what a successful bus network should achieve. Other recommendations include a rural weighting for bus funding and minimum standards at bus stops, including real-time information.
The Department for Transport responded by highlighting a record £1bn in multi-year funding to improve bus services, alongside the Bus Services Bill to bring services under local control and a £3 fare cap extended until March 2027. However, the committee maintains that structural reform alone is unlikely to address disparities, especially in areas outside cities, and urges ministers to guarantee minimum service levels by the end of this parliament.
