Highland and Island £2 bus fare cap begins in Shetland: Milestone for affordable travel
Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess has hailed the rollout of the £2 bus fare cap for the Highlands and Islands, which will begin today in Shetland.
The cap is part of a pilot that was secured by the Scottish Greens through budget negotiations. It will be expanded across the wider region in the weeks and months ahead.
The move comes after the introduction of free bus travel for under 22s five years ago, and the permanent removal of peak rail fares last year. Both policies were also secured by Scottish Greens MSPs.
Ariane, who represents the Highlands and Islands, said:
“I am delighted that this pilot is getting underway and that people of all ages will be benefiting from it.
“It is a milestone moment for travel in a region where bus travel is often prohibitively expensive, especially for longer journeys.
“While it is beginning in Shetland, it will soon be rolled out to people all over the Highlands and Islands.
“Capping fares at £2 will bring huge savings for passengers, and it will open up new opportunities for workers, students and other regular travellers.
“I am confident that it will see more people choosing to leave their cars at home, and hope its success will convince the Scottish Government to roll it out to the rest of the country as well.”
Ariane added: “This £2 cap builds on other improvements the Scottish Greens have already delivered to make public transport more affordable.
“From free bus travel for everyone under 22 across Scotland, to scrapping unfair peak rail fares. This pilot is about shifting power back to people and giving them real choices about how they get about and live.”