Tag: buses

Campaigning for free public transport

Calling on candidates for public office in the May 2026 election to pledge support for free public transport

Fare Free London have initiated a campaign to get candidates for parliamentary or local government office in the local government elections to commit to campaigning for free public transport.

Lothian Bus image by GreenAvGeek CC BY-SA 4.0

Calls to widen the provision of free public transport have been growing over the last few years. Buses are already free for pensioners across the UK, and for under-22s in Scotland and Wales; London residents who are 60+ travel free on the tube and trains too.

The House of Commons transport committee called in August last year for free bus travel to be extended to under-22s in England.

Glasgow City Council, acting on a recommendation of the Scottish Just Transition Commission, in 2024 published a report on how free public transport could be implemented in the city, and will run a pilot scheme this year under which 1000 residents between the ages of 22 and 59 will travel free for six weeks.

Outside the UK, free transport schemes are widespread. Public transport is free for residents in European cities including the capitals of Estonia and Serbia; Montpellier and Dunkerque inFrance; Kriviy Rih in Ukraine; and the whole of Luxemburg. No less than 130 municipalities in Brazil have free public transport, as do Kansas City, Albuquerque and other cities in the US.

If you are a candidate for a Scottish constituency or on a regional list please add your name to the form here.

If you support this campaign please ask candidates in your area to sign up. You can use this QR code or share this link to the form.

Public transport use in Scotland in decline

The decision by the Scottish Government to extend free bus travel to under 19 year olds is a small but positive step.  However, the latest Transport for Scotland Report published yesterday (27th February 2020) shows that the number of bus journeys undertaken is continuing to fall while car usage is rising.  The steepest fall in bus use is in the Highlands and Islands while the decline is least in South East Scotland.  The data in the report doesn’t break down regions by public transport provider but the relatively small decline in the South East is almost certainly a result of increased numbers using publicly run Lothian Buses.

In 2107 transport accounted for 36.8% of Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions.  Cars were the biggest contributor accounting for almost 40% of the total.  Cutting the use of polluting car transport is a critical part of shifting to a zero carbon future.  Simply replacing petrol and diesel by electric would put huge pressure on natural resources that are in short supply and whose extraction causes major environmental damage.  The answer must surely be a comprehensive, flexible and well connected public transport system that has electric buses as a key component and is free to users.  There is good evidence that low or free fares results in a massive increase in public transport use.

800px-Lothian_Buses_Envrio400XLB_1071

One of Lothian’s new 100 seat Envrio400XLB buses.  CC-BY-SA 4.0