Tue, 12 Aug 2025

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 Give under-22s free bus passes to help them into work, MPs say

A pilot scheme for free travel at any time of day would help them get to work and education, a report says.
MPs recommend free bus passes for under-22s in England, citing high fares and limited services as a barrier to opportunity. The number of bus journeys has dropped by 1 billion since 2009 while fares have risen faster than inflation. A pilot scheme of free bus travel at any time of day is suggested. This would benefit students like Alex Mustafa who relies on buses due to health and financial reasons, and can't afford the £10 weekly cost. Experts say high bus fares restrict young people's access to education and employment. The Transport Committee recommends improvements to bus stops and shelters, as well as reducing fare caps for rural areas where people tend to take longer journeys. Local authorities are urged to provide a stable funding commitment for bus services to make them more reliable.
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