Young Scots stand to save hundreds of pounds a year from a free bus travel scheme.
People under 22 now qualify to travel by bus for free as of Monday, bringing the total number of people who do not need to pay to ride the bus in Scotland to more than 2.3 million.
Schoolboy Alan Cruickshank was at the launch of the policy at Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow on Monday. He told The National he would now be able get to work at his part-time takeaway job free of charge – a journey which used to cost him an hour’s wages.
The 16-year-old, from Renfrewshire, said: “I could save around a tenner a week to £15.
“Some people are spending the money but might not have it. I live in Johnstone, which isn’t the richest area, so people are spending money they don’t always have.
“It will allow people to focus on other stuff rather than travel.”
For anyone over the age of 16 travelling by First Bus, the main bus operator in Scotland’s largest city, the cost of a four-week city or local season ticket was £53 – or £636 for a whole year.
Ewan Carmichael, 16, said free bus travel opened up bigger social circles for him, including allowing him to meet other LGBT young people at community groups in places that are difficult to get to.
He said: “Being a gay young person, there are a lot of LGBT groups which are inaccessible, so it helps them get from A to B.”
The policy was launched by Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth and the minister for active travel Patrick Harvie in Glasgow.
Gilruth told the National: “[This] is a hugely important for young people in Scotland today, who will have the opportunity to access free public transport on the bus for the first time from today.
“It is really important to children and young people. It will make a huge difference for people like Alan in terms of the cost-saving but also to the job opportunities that being able to travel all over the country for free will provide
“Increasing bus use will help us achieve our world-leading goal of reducing the number of kilometres travelled by car by 20% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2045.
Harvie said: “I’m really delighted we’re today finally launching free bus travel for everybody in Scotland under the age of 22.
“It’s going to normalise bus travel; it’s going to make it much easier and more natural for the next generation to see the bus as their first choice.
“That means there are going to be far fewer journeys by private transport and we’re going to make public transport the norm for everybody.”
He added the move would make existing bus routes “viable” and therefore protect services which may have otherwise been threatened with closure.
Young people need to apply for a new National Entitlement Card or Young Scot card to access the scheme.
Applications have been open since January 10 and as Covid restrictions ease, more young people are being encouraged to get their new cards.
Previously, the advice was only for those who were making “essential” trips to apply for the cards.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here