Young people should be offered bus fares which are free or set at low, flat rates, according to new research. A paper written by the University of the West of England and national charity Sustrans is calling for 'not fair' bus services for young people in the United Kingdom to be reformed.
The paper says that people aged 16-24 use buses far more than older age groups and have less access to cars, but they face a "postcode lottery" in accessing free and discounted bus fares. In Scotland, people under 22 years old are eligible for bus travel, while there are greater discounts for young people in some parts of England than there are in others.
And according to the researchers, costly bus travel is harming the life chances of young people by reducing opportunities to access education, training and employment. And they are calling for national governments in the United Kingdom to set out a minimum offer for young people aged up to 25 and to support local transport authorities to move towards this.
Read more: Bristol's college students demand free bus travel but it is not looking likely
Extinction Rebellion campaigners in Bristol have called for free bus travel for those under 25, students and apprentices in the West of England region, which includes Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset. However, the metro mayor for the West of England, Dan Norris, has previously said there is currently no funding to make it happen.
But Andy Cope, director of evidence and insight at Sustrans, says that there needs to be "greater consistency and fairness" for young people in the United Kingdom.
"Young people are often reliant on buses to get to education or work, and amid historical cuts to services and a cost of living crisis, it's vital they can access transport," said Cope. "At present there's a postcode lottery of local and regional discounts for a range of ages, which is not fair and hardly in the spirit of levelling-up. Of course, while walking and cycling have an important role to play, for longer journeys buses can be a lifeline.
"As such, we are also calling on each of the UK nations to set out a minimum offer for young people aged up to 25 and to support local authorities to move towards this."
Dr Sarah Collings, a senior research fellow in transport and young people at UWE, backed these calls. "The recent publication of local Bus Service Improvement Plans in England, along with national policy developments in Wales and Scotland, means now is an important time to highlight what young people need from bus fares," she said.
"We are calling on governments to match ambitious offers already seen in some parts of the UK and, in doing so, help their young population to thrive. Young people tell us that this should include introducing free or flat fares such as the free travel offer which is already available to under 22s in Scotland or the 80p flat fare offer for 16-21 year olds in South Yorkshire. They say support should extend up to the age of 25 and that decision makers should work with young people to develop their offer."
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