Policy awareness
Professional stakeholders were asked to detail their views about the policy behind the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme. While a few issues were discussed at this question (and are outlined below), many of the responses focused the impact of the scheme and/or its benefits - this information was analysed and is included under the relevant coverage across the subsequent chapters.
Awareness and Areas of Support
Encouraging Sustainable Travel Behaviours
Overall, awareness of the scheme and it’s aims and objectives was high, and there was overwhelming support for the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme:
“Strong and laudable policy objectives in terms of accessibility to opportunities, inclusivity, and embedding environmentally sustainable behaviours from a young age.” (Bus Operator)
In particular, respondents were supportive of the aim to encourage greener and more environmentally friendly travel behaviours among young people, with several being optimistic that these changes would be sustained in the long term.
One Active Travel Organisation, who noted the inter-connected nature of walking and bus use, also supported the scope of the initiative, focusing on behaviour change:
“…we are pleased that there has been greater recognition of the need for behavioural initiatives to achieve mode shift from driving to walking. Indeed, research shows that while increased investment in active travel infrastructure is important, it is ‘insufficient’ without behavioural changes. Therefore, providing people with encouragement, support, and guidance to change their behaviour is essential to maximise positive changes for our communities, health, and environment in the long term.” (Active Travel Organisation)
Supportive for Young People and their Families
One area that garnered large levels of support was the various ways that the scheme aimed to benefit young people and their families. Respondents were generally supportive of the focus on providing greater access to transport, greater access to opportunities, including work, education and social and leisure activities, and removing the cost barrier/bring cost savings to young people and their families:
“Free bus travel for young people across Scotland is very welcome, allowing for local and national travel, increasing access to extra-curricular activities, community-based activities, travel for students studying elsewhere in Scotland, access for young people who might not be able to afford bus travel.” (Local Authority)
“Affordability is a key consideration in choice of transport. The Young Person’s Free Bus Travel Scheme is a great policy initiative that removes the cost constraint of bus travel for those young people under 22 [years old]. Providing this support allows young people across Scotland to have enhanced access to opportunities. This can be access to education, to work or to leisure activities without the need for the support and availability of a parent or guardian with access to a car.” (RTP)
This impact is discussed in more detail at Chapter 4 Impact on Young People and their Families.
Other Positive Aspects of the Policy/Scheme
Respondents were also supportive of a range of other aims or aspects of the scheme. This included:
- The appropriateness of the policy at a time of a ‘cost of living crisis’;
- That it supported the sustainability of bus services;
- That it encouraged modal shift away from car use and onto public transport, and would provide positive environmental impacts as a result; and
- That it aligned well with organisations’ own corporate plans and objectives.
Alignment with Other Policy and Priority Areas
A few respondents, across the course of the consultation survey, also highlighted that the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme either integrated well with, or was supportive of other policy or priority areas, both at national and local government level. This included environmental policy and health and wellbeing, however, the main areas the scheme was considered to contribute was in tackling poverty and providing greater equality/equity between young people from different backgrounds and economic means:
“It ties in with Council aim and objectives for child poverty, increasing opportunities for young people, removing cost barriers for those on low income, etc.” (Local Authority)
One respondent was also highly supportive of the universal nature of the scheme and its capacity to support those experiencing poverty in a non-stigmatising manner:
“This policy was very widely welcomed in principle… especially because of its potential to be a very practical way to enable children and young people experiencing poverty to grasp many of the same opportunities as those who don't experience poverty... It was important that the policy didn't stigmatise those experiencing poverty in the way that it was implemented, and so the universal approach was also supported.” (Children and Families’ Rights/Support/Campaign Organisation)
Another stakeholder also highlighted links between the use of public transport, and bus use in particular, and active travel, and suggested that this would ultimately help to tackle both health and transport inequalities, as well as environmental issues:
“Active travel and public transport are intricately linked, particularly for pedestrians. Virtually every trip by public transport involves walking at some stage… We know that encouraging public transport increases peoples' physical activity compared to car use, and we support systems and schemes that allow residents of Scotland of all ages to make sustainable travel choices… We believe that walking and other modes of active travel play a vital role in Scotland’s response to the current challenges posed by health and transport inequalities and the climate emergency.” (Active Travel Organisation)
Policy/Scheme Limitations
While largely supportive of the scheme overall, several stakeholders highlighted limitations. One of the main issues was related to access to bus services, with respondents highlighting differences in provision across the country (this issue is explored in more detail at Chapter 6 Scheme Challenges and Suggested Changes), and the current lack of resources to fully realise the benefits of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme for all:
“…benefits are only accrued where bus services are available and in rural areas commercial bus services are currently under extreme financial strain with many… being withdrawn. Given the current financial constraints on local transport authorities there is little opportunity to replace these withdrawn services/journeys with supported bus services/journeys, far less expand the bus network to maximise the benefits of the U22 [Under 22s] Scheme… The policy is of greater benefit for those… living in large towns or cities and/or those wishing to use inter-city coaches for longer-distance travel.” (Local Authority)
Indeed, a few respondents, typically RTPs, stressed the importance of good quality, “stable and reliable” bus networks to the overall success of the scheme in the long term, with others noting that the lack of services in some areas rendered the scheme practically “worthless”:
“…in order to realise the full benefits of the policy, the sector has to grasp the challenge of providing an effective and reliable bus network that provides viable transport links to all our settlements, across the day and evening, on weekdays and weekends. The policy does not work if there are no buses in the first place.” (RTP)
“The policy is a positive step, however, the lack of bus routes and the timing of buses in the rural areas of our authority can make the pass almost worthless.” (Local Authority)
Another common issue discussed by stakeholders was the scheme’s limitations with regards to the lack of inter-modal connectivity/use. Stakeholders suggested that greater integration/inclusion of other public transport modes would be beneficial, particularly for train and ferry travel (this is discussed in more detail at Chapter 6, Scheme Challenges and Suggested Changes).