Young person’s free bus travel continues to make a difference to their lives
With over 150 million journeys made since launch
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport: I’m delighted that young people all over Scotland have now made over 150 million journeys using their free bus pass. The scheme is making a huge difference for children, young people, and their families, with this transformational policy making sustainable travel easier, and cheaper for them each and every day.
And it’s not just about the number of journeys, it’s about what these journeys mean. I’ve heard from young people who have told me it means that they could join a new sports club they weren’t able to otherwise. I’ve heard from students who can now choose from a wider range of colleges and universities to study. And I’ve ever heard from a young person who’s using their bus pass to visit their granny more often.
So it’s opening doors to new opportunities, keeping people connected, and making sustainable transport more affordable, giving Scotland’s children and young people the very best chance to succeed in life.
And I want to thank every young person who is using Scotland’s buses responsibly, and in doing so, reducing emissions and taking climate action.
Person 1: The free Bus Travel has had a massive impact on my life. It has allowed me to go up and see my family more in Aberdeenshire. With the long distance travel being free, it’s allowed me to take on more shifts at work because I’ve not had to factor in the cost of bus travel into the hours I’ve worked, and has allowed me to socialise more and to just go into town just to see friends.
Person 2: The free bus travel has been a really big change to my life because I have older siblings. I get to hang out with my friends way much more than they could with their friends. And I’m lucky for that because it’s something I wouldn’t be able to do.
Person 3: It’s really important not only just for ease, but also just sustain and promote sustainable travel, something that we’re really passionate here about in Scotland. So I want to be part of it as well.
