The Green Party is set to announce a policy later today that everyone under 22 should be able to ride the bus for free. Party leader Zack Polanski is expected to make the announcement during a visit to Sheffield on Saturday, arguing that free bus passes for young people will make it easier for them to access work and education.
The policy comes despite the Labour government's U-turn on a similar proposal last October, which was deemed 'unaffordable'. However, the Green Party claims the scheme would be 'self-financing' because increased bus use benefits the economy. They cite research by KPMG estimating that bus passengers spend £39.1 billion annually in local businesses, and that every £1 invested in bus services yields an economic benefit of £4.55 to £5.
Currently, bus travel is free for under-22s in Scotland, while in London under-18s travel free and there are discounted rates for some 18-25-year-olds. The Green Party says free bus travel for under-22s would improve access to services in rural areas and cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
Polanski said: 'Young people are increasingly shut out of employment and training by the cost-of-living crisis... Free bus travel for the young is part of our mission to make hope normal again.' The party also promises to remove time restrictions on disabled persons' bus passes and guarantee free travel for the elderly with extended hours.
The proposal was originally put forward by MPs on the Commons Transport Committee in August last year, but the Labour government halted it, citing a lack of funds. Committee chair Ruth Cadbury accused the Department for Transport of 'lacking in ambition', noting that young people are unable to get first jobs or face exhausting journeys to school or college.
