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.
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.
Employment, Energy and Environment 