SNP must stop dragging its feet on £2 bus fare cap
The Scottish Government must urgently accelerate the roll-out of the £2 bus fare cap across Scotland, says Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay.
The cap was first trialled in the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Argyll and Bute after Scottish Greens MSPs secured it in budget negotiations. The SNP has since promised an “early expansion” to Strathclyde and across Scotland, but has yet to publish a timeline.
During the election John Swinney promised to “expand the £2 bus fare cap to more areas of Scotland” in his first 100 days as First Minister, but that deadline passed earlier this month.
The move follows the introduction of free bus travel for under-22s five years ago and the permanent removal of peak rail fares earlier this year - both policies secured by Scottish Greens MSPs.
Gillian said:
“The £2 bus fare cap has been a game-changer for thousands of people across the Highlands and Islands, helping families and regular travellers to cut the cost of getting around, reducing emissions and keeping more money in people’s pockets.
“It has shown what is possible when we put affordable, accessible public transport at the heart of our policies. But progress has now stalled, and the Scottish Government is dragging its feet on extending the scheme.
“The Scottish Government must set out a clear timetable and get on with rolling out the £2 fare cap across the country.”
Gillian added:
“If we want people to choose public transport, we have to make it affordable, accessible and available.
“The Scottish Greens delivered free bus travel for under-22s and scrapped peak rail fares. The £2 bus fare cap could be just as transformative — but only if the Scottish Government stops stalling and makes it available to people across the country.”