Government rules out free bus passes for under-22s

A proposal to trial free bus passes for under-22s in England won’t go ahead for cost reasons.

The idea was suggested by the Transport Committee earlier this year as a way of improving young people’s access to jobs and education.

But the government has now said that the money for this type of scheme won’t be available for the next few years at least.

Decision is a missed opportunity, says committee

Committee chair Ruth Cadbury has criticised the government’s response, saying it looks like it’s “lacking in ambition”.

“It is hard to shake the feeling that an opportunity may be missed, particularly to improve services in rural and underserved communities,” she said.

Ms Cadbury added that poor connectivity has consequences for young people, such as being unable to get their first jobs or taking “exhausting” journeys to reach school or college.

Buses are the most popular form of public transport 

According to the Transport Committee, buses are currently the most-used form of public transport in England. 

But government data suggests that over the past 15 years, bus ridership has fallen by nearly 22%.

And separate figures from the charity CPRE suggest that more than half of areas covered by county or unitary councils are “transport deserts” with no reliable access to buses at all.

That’s a serious problem when you bear in mind that not everyone has a car. 

In 2024, 22% of households in England didn’t have access to a vehicle - and this figure is higher among households with lower incomes. 

So for many families, buses aren’t just convenient; they’re essential if they’re to get around.

Transport costs hit low-income households the hardest

This comes after an IPPR study found that while people on low incomes typically travel much less than higher earners, they spend a much bigger share of their income on getting around.

Figures show that the poorest fifth of households spend 18% of their income on transport.

That’s almost double the average of 11%.

And for poorer households that own a car, a staggering 25% of their income goes on keeping it running.