MPs propose free bus pass for under-22s in the UK
A new Transport Committee report calls on the government to reform the way local bus services are funded and to adopt a national ambition for a minimum level of public transport connectivity.
This would protect residents in England’s towns and villages from becoming increasingly isolated, MPs say.
The last decade has seen bus routes and service frequencies diminish in many parts of the country, directly in tandem with a drop in ridership.
Department for Transport (DfT) data shows that the number of bus journeys taken in England outside of London fell from 4.6 billion in 2009 to 3.6 billion in 2024, a reduction of 21.7%.
The County Councils Network reported that, between 2019 and 2024, bus services decreased by 18% on average in areas covered by county and unitary councils. The countryside charity CPRE told the Committee that 56% of small towns were in a “transport desert”.
“Buses are fundamental to many people’s quality of life. Without them, residents on low incomes, older and younger people, face social exclusion or being cut off from employment and services like hospitals or education. In many areas, that is tragically already the case,” said Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury.
“The DfT should change the way funding is provided to ensure councils and bus firms would be committed to running socially necessary services, and, on that basis, should also adopt an ambition for all councils to develop and maintain a minimum level of public transport connectivity.”
To achieve this, the sector will need greater financial certainty, which is why we say the Government should announce funding in five-year blocks, Cadbury said.
Free bus fares for under-22s
One of the key proposals in the report is transforming how buses are used by young people.
The report found that limited services and high fares make it harder for young people to reach college, training, entry-level jobs, or shift-based work.
In one instance, Somerset Council found that some local young people faced three to four hours of daily travel to reach education, affecting both their learning and wellbeing.
“England’s patchwork of local youth concessions requires a coherent national approach to ensure fair access and to drive economic growth and equal opportunity,” the report states.
“DfT’s review of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme should consider piloting a free bus pass for under-22s, valid for travel at any time of day.”
