BUDGET: Greens call for free bus travel for everyone under 30
The Scottish Greens have called for the upcoming Scottish budget to extend free bus travel to everyone under 30.
This would build on the 250 million free journeys taken by under 22 year olds as part of the groundbreaking scheme previously delivered by the Scottish Greens.
Free bus travel for young people has been one of the greatest successes of devolution, saving them and their families a fortune and helping to tackle the climate crisis.
Extending it to everyone under 30 would give more than half a million more people access to free bus travel, opening up new opportunities to find work, education opportunities and to see more of Scotland.
The party’s co-leader, Ross Greer, said:
“The Greens’ introduction of free bus travel for everyone under 22 has been a huge success. Hundreds of thousands of young people are saving money, finding new opportunities, and helping to tackle the climate crisis.
“This scheme is one of the clearest achievements of the Scottish Parliament. Families across the country have saved thousands of pounds in a period when bills and other costs have otherwise soared.
“But the cost of living crisis doesn’t stop for people the day they turn 22. For many young people the impact of losing their bus pass is huge, with new travel costs eating into their budgets.
“Too many workers in their 20s are trapped in a cycle of ever-rising costs and insecure work, with far too many struggling to cover their rent and bills every month.
“Lowering the cost of public transport is a win-win for people and planet. That’s why the Scottish Greens are pushing for more people to get a free bus pass as soon as possible.”