Greens call for expansion of free bus travel
The Scottish Greens will be using opposition debate time tomorrow to call for the expansion of free bus travel to more people across Scotland as part of budget negotiations.
This would build on the 250 million free journeys taken by under 22 year olds as part of the groundbreaking scheme delivered by the Scottish Greens through budget negotiations and in government.
The motion, lodged by Green MSP Mark Ruskell, calls for bus services to be run in the public interest to improve services and reduce fares for all passengers
Mark Ruskell said:
“Free bus travel for young people has been one of the proudest achievements of devolution. It has kept money in people’s pockets while cutting emissions and supporting local bus services.
“With the cost of living biting, and the climate crisis getting even worse, we want to see it expanded to reach even more people.
“If we want to encourage people out of their cars then we need to cut the cost of public transport, and what better way to do that than to make buses free to use and widely available?
“The fact that free bus travel for young people has seen 250 million journeys shows that it works. With the budget just around the corner, expanding it to more people will be a core part of our negotiations.
“I hope that MSPs from all parties will back by motion so that we can build on that success, cut pollution and deliver cleaner, greener transport for all.”
Mark added:
“Bus services should be run in the public interest rather than corporate profits, with affordable, accessible and reliable services for all communities.
“Publicly owned bus companies are normal throughout Europe, and there is no reason that we can’t do the same in Scotland.”
Text of motion lodged by Mark Ruskell MSP
"This Parliament agrees that communities across Scotland deserve affordable, accessible and reliable bus services; agrees that more bus services across Scotland should be run in the public interest to improve services and reduce fares for all passengers; celebrates that 250 million bus journeys have been taken by young people in Scotland since the introduction of free bus travel for under 22s; and calls on the Scottish Government to expand free bus travel to more young people."