First Minister confirms launch of free bus travel for under 22s

Date: 16th December 2021
Category: Child poverty

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The First Minister has officially confirmed plans to launch free bus travel for under 22s on 31 January 2022. The transformational policy aims to embed sustainable travel behaviours early on and is essential in helping Scotland to tackle the climate emergency and meet the ambitious target to become net zero by 2045.

The announcement follows new research commissioned by Transport Scotland that reveals nationwide support for the roll out of free bus travel for the country’s young people – with almost two-thirds (61%) of young Scots agreeing that access to public transport will play a central role in the fight against climate change.

Around 930,000 young people across Scotland will be eligible to benefit from the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, making it easier for them to make sustainable travel choices. The scheme also seeks to improve opportunities for all young people through better access to education, leisure and work.