Young people in Scotland make over 200 million free bus journeys

More than 200 million free bus journeys have now been made by children and young people since the Scottish Government introduced free bus travel for under 22s three years ago.

The scheme continues to help eradicate child poverty, help people take climate action and grow the economy by providing free access to education, employment and leisure.

Since being introduced in January 2022, it continues to encourage the early adoption of bus travel among children and young people. It has expanded access to social, education and employment opportunities and it has reduced travel costs for families and young adults. Through the 2025-26 Budget, the Scottish Government will provide £409 million for concessionary bus travel, providing access to free bus travel for almost 2.3 million people.

To mark the milestone, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport will visit an open day event later this morning, facilitated by East Kilbride & District Engineering Group Training Association, as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week – meeting young apprentices who are already benefitting from free bus travel for under 22s.

Commenting on this significant achievement, Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop stated:

“Eradicating child poverty is the single greatest priority of this government. That’s why I’m so pleased that under 22s across Scotland continue to take advantage of this transformative benefit – with over 200 million journeys now made across Scotland.

“This is saving young people and their families significant amounts of money, but just as importantly, it’s creating new opportunities. It’s giving children and young people the best chances to succeed in life, whether it’s widening access and connectivity to education or employment – or both at the same time through the fantastic apprenticeship opportunities available across the country.

“It’s not just about the number of journeys, it’s about what these journeys mean. I’ve met many young people who are attending courses and employment, at no additional cost to get there. Most memorably, I met a young person who was using free bus travel to see their granny more often than they could otherwise afford. So it’s opening new doors, keeping people connected and encouraging more sustainable travel, through what I believe is one of the most instrumental and transformative policies we’ve seen in Scotland for many years.

“I want to thank the many young people who are recognising that choosing bus is one of the best ways to travel. In doing so, they are supporting our bus services, our towns and cities, and our climate.”

For further details regarding the scheme, including on application procedures, please visit www.freebus.scot