Greens call for £2 bus fare cap to apply to night buses
The Scottish Greens are calling for the £2 bus fare cap to apply to night buses in Strathclyde.
Night buses are counted as “premium fare services” and so the £2 bus fare cap doesn’t apply.
The £2 bus fare cap was secured by the Scottish Greens in budget negotiations in 2024, beginning with a pilot across the Highlands and Islands and saving regular bus users hundreds of pounds.
It was extended to bus services across Strathclyde in September, bringing cheaper fares to people across one of Scotland’s biggest regions.
At General Questions last Thursday, Scottish Green MSP Holly Bruce asked what discussions Transport Scotland has had with bus operators to extend the fare cap to apply to night services in Glasgow.
The Minister for Business and Fair Work, Tom Arthur, said that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport has asked Transport Scotland to engage with bus operators on this issue.
Scottish Green MSP Holly Bruce said:
“I’m proud that the Scottish Greens fought hard for the introduction of the £2 bus fare cap, which is now directly taking some pressure off household budgets and tackling the climate crisis.
“I’m disappointed, however, that night buses are not included in the £2 cap, and I’m calling for this to be changed as soon as possible.
“The notion that getting home safely - whether from work or a night out with friends - is a ‘premium’, is ridiculous. These services are a lifeline for anyone who works late, and in particular for women, who already have to face so much stress around getting home in the dark, never mind when our public transport services are unaffordable and infrequent.
“Workers should not have to pay more to get home simply because of the shift that they work. Whether hospitality workers, cleaners, NHS workers, carers, or anyone else, we all just want to get home easily at the end of a long day.
“The £2 bus fare cap is the a big step towards a public transport system that is accessible and free for everyone – that must include those who use night bus services.”