Threat to Free and Affordable Bus Travel for Vulnerable Groups
Free and low-cost bus travel for the elderly, schoolchildren, and other vulnerable populations is facing significant challenges due to a looming £450 million funding gap, local councils are poised to alert the Government. On Wednesday, the Local Government Association (LGA) is set to urge the Government to address this shortfall, following reports that financially-strapped councils in England expended £452 million last year to subsidize bus passes, which grant free travel to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities.
Councils have cautioned that they may be compelled to reduce free travel options during peak hours for the elderly, cut back on community transport services, limit school transport, and even scale back on discounted fares in order to manage costs in the future. Local authorities are mandated by law to provide bus passes to state pensioners and individuals with specific disabilities, as well as to reimburse bus operators for the journeys undertaken by pass holders.
However, discretionary bus services—including free peak travel, community transport, capped fares, and school transport—are already being curtailed by local councils striving to maintain financial stability. Adam Hug, the transport spokesperson for the LGA, stated: “Free bus passes are essential for many in our communities, enabling vulnerable residents to shop, visit family and friends, and attend crucial appointments.”
Call for Action
The LGA is advocating for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to utilize the upcoming Spending Review in June to provide long-term, consistent funding for local bus services and address the funding gap over the next three years. They emphasize that closing the bus pass funding gap would not only enhance local public transport but also align with the Government’s objectives of fostering economic growth and expanding opportunities, particularly for individuals who may lack access to a vehicle.
Last year, the Labour government replaced the previous £2 fare cap with a new cap of £3, arguing that the increase was necessary due to the lack of funding from the prior Conservative administration for the continuation of the original fare policy. In response, numerous councils and mayoral authorities, including Greater Manchester, took proactive measures to preserve the £2 cap by allocating additional subsidies from their budgets.
In a concerning trend, The i Paper previously reported that millions of individuals in England have been left without essential transport options, as some councils have drastically reduced bus services by over 90 percent since 2010. This reduction has resulted in the cancellation of a staggering 16 million miles of bus routes across the ten most-affected areas, including Nottingham, Cumbria, and Portsmouth, with local leaders attributing these cuts to decreased funding from central government.
The Government has been contacted for comments regarding this pressing issue.
