Call for free bus travel to help under-22s into work

According to a report of MPs, free bus transitions should be given to help them enter the UK under the age of 22 in the UK.

He said that the number of bus travels in the UK has fallen in recent years and that the wages have increased faster than inflation.

MPs were an obstacle to opportunities and growth in some regions that propose a free bus trip at any time of the day for under the age of 22.

The Ministry of Transport, “to increase the reliability and frequency of bus services throughout the country, the multi -year financing provides £ 1 billion pounds,” he said.

Since January 2022, everyone aged five to 22 years in Scotland It has the right to travel free buses.

According to the report of the Transportation Committee, the number of bus passenger journeys in the UK fell from 4.6 billion to 3.6 billion in 2009.

Some small towns and rural areas do not have any bus services, or that the buses that work so infrequently do not add meaningful to people’s transportation options, “he said.

A study conducted in 2019 found that 57% of job seekers lived in areas where they could not reach an employment center within 45 minutes by bus.

“High bus fees and limited local service can seriously restrict access to education, employment and other opportunities.” He said.

19 -year -old Alex Mustafa says he always uses the bus because he cannot drive for health and financial reasons and will benefit from the free bus crossing.

“Also, like me, it will help poor young people who trust public transportation to make a better plan for social connections, as they are, without the need to worry about the bus cost on how expensive it is to go out.”

Alex said he was waiting for a bus for more than an hour and was late to work and missed social activities due to canceled buses.

“When you need to plan around an unreliable program, it is very difficult to live life according to the plan. Trains are sometimes better, but they come at a higher cost and limit it with position.” He said.

Youth Charity Rise’s General Manager Roman Dibden said that young people could not cover the bus fee because they saw that they have always turned down job meetings and education.

“Free bus transitions for under the age of 22 will remove a large barrier by opening access to jobs, apprentices and education in communities where they are not in front of the opportunity.”

The 21-year-old Dylan Lewis-Creser is a student in city planning, and in May 2024 he also stood as a green party candidate for Walkley Ward in local elections.

They told the BBC that they used a bus to travel around Sheffield because the driving was very expensive.

“A free bus crossing means that I can go to university and pay £ 10 a week, which is collected as a significant extent as a student in the low budget.” He said.

He continued: “This cost was strengthened while considering changing buses to reach other business opportunities and other places such as hospitals.”

Dylan thinks that there should be more discussions about “transportable, affordable and reliable”.

“Some of this would support people fighting in costs to do this, like young people.” They said.

He continued: “We have seen how young people using buses in Scotland have been increased and it makes sense to expand this policy.”

According to KPMG’s research, bus passengers spend £ 39.1 billion every year in local businesses.

However, the experts, transportation committee, the bus sector to the economy, the contribution of the economy fell by £ 8.9 billion between 2011 and 2023, he said.

The report said: “The current irregular nature of the bus industry can encourage commercial operators to” doubt “less profitable routes and often leave vulnerable communities without servants.”

The Committee heard that elderly people felt insecure at bus stops, especially by using it on the bus.

The report suggested improvements in bus stops and shelters such as display showing real -time information.

Jane Bishop is the general manager of North Norfolk Community Transport, a charity institution that provides low-cost dial-a-ride services in the local region. For some people, bus services mean the difference between staying in their homes or having to go to assistance.

“Most of our passengers are old people, but not all,” BBC said. “A lot of people, we are the only people they see every week.”

“They’re friends with other people on their routes, so it’s a great tool to fight loneliness.” He said.

However, “a lottery in your region is a lottery transportation,” he added.

The cover of bus fees outside London was increased to £ 3 last year.

The Committee said that the wage limits are most beneficial for people in rural areas, because they have to use more than one bus for a trip or a trip.

However, the report criticized the short -term nature of financing for bus services and said that “local authorities have prevented the ability to develop services”.

“Five -year settlements in other transportation sectors such as railway and strategic road network provided more accuracy and encouraged strategic planning.” He said. “The most widely used public transportation, bus services, require a similar commitment.”

Bus services have been transferred in the UK, that is, the responsibility of local authorities. Individual councils can choose to compromise below 22 years of age.

Local Government Association (LGA) welcomed the advice of the committee to terminate the “stop-Start financing” for buses.

“Bus services provide a basic public transportation mode in local communities on which millions of people are based.

“In order to ensure that the services are sustainable for our communities, there is a need to work more to draw them to the buses. Stop the risks of financing, risk of losing passengers, and when the money is found and when the patronage is difficult.”

Liberal Democrat MP Steff Aquarone, sitting in the transportation committee, said the report shows the need for “a different model for rural public transport”.

Local councils will not be able to subsidize bus fees as in other countries, but “people put buses when they want to travel, if you go to places they want to go, people will use them,” he said.

Additional reporting by Kris Bramwell.