Free bus travel for everyone under 22 has ‘opened up our community and our country’ for young people in Renfrewshire, says Ross Greer, the Scottish Green MSP for the West of Scotland.
Since the Scottish Greens’ scheme was launched in January 2022, 22,458 young people in Renfrewshire have taken 2,845,293 free journeys.
In total, 74.6% of all eligible young people in Renfrewshire have received their free bus pass, which allows them to travel anywhere in Scotland.
Scotland is the only area in the UK to offer free bus travel for all young people. The policy was first proposed by the Scottish Greens and was delivered after the party joined the Scottish Government in 2021.
Almost 670,000 young people across Scotland have taken over 84 million free bus journeys in total.
Ross Greer, Renfrewshire’s Scottish Green MSP said: “I am delighted that so many young people in Renfrewshire now have their free bus pass. This scheme is opening up our community and our country while helping families through the cost of living crisis and protecting the climate by reducing the numbers of cars on the road. I’m really proud that we have delivered it with the Scottish Greens in government.
“It’s fantastic that nearly 3 in 4 young people in Renfrewshire are taking full advantage of the scheme. Those who haven’t signed up yet should head to freebus.scot to get their card. Every free bus journey is money in people’s pockets. There will be families in Renfrewshire who have already saved hundreds of pounds.
“Public transport is for all of us. It should not cost the earth. That is why the Scottish Greens are building on this success by removing peak-time rail fares from Monday 2nd October.”
Headline image: MSP Ross Greer