Free bus travel could help lift young people out of poverty and remove barriers to work

BUS TRAVEL

We all know how expensive public transport is in England. It’s so expensive people fly out of the country and back in because it’s cheaper than taking a train.

But the sky-high costs of trains and buses are not only harming the environment, they are keeping people in poverty.

Last year the Social Market Foundation found that five million of the 13 million people in poverty would be lifted above the poverty line if you took away their transport costs. That’s 8% of the British population.

As part of our Blueprint for Change, Big Issue is calling on the new government to introduce free bus travel in England for people 23 and under – for whom public transport costs are a barrier to work.

As an increased number of bus services leave the private sector – as in Manchester – this becomes easier to implement. This scheme already delivers in Scotland, with more than 100 million journeys made since the Scottish government introduced free bus travel for under 22s in January 2022. A report last year found more than a third (34%) of cardholders have been able to access new opportunities.

The Poverty Alliance, which campaigned for the scheme and now wants to see it extended, said it has given people more freedom in their lives. Policy and campaigns manager Ruth Boyle told the Big Issue: “When public transport is affordable and accessible it gives people more freedom in their lives. It can be a key that unlocks access to jobs, education, training, childcare, healthcare and other public services, and stronger community connections.

“People in Scotland have told us how much the under 22s concessionary bus travel scheme has helped them, and we are pushing for the S