Other issues

A wide range of other issues were also identified and discussed by respondents. This included challenges related to the initial setup and implementation of the scheme, technical and infrastructure issues experienced, wider impacts and potential unintended consequences.

Application Issues

Both the follow-up survey and focus groups identified issues with the application process. Although this was relevant for a minority, the issues experienced were often highly impactful. In the follow-up survey, 25% of respondents who had signed up for the scheme indicated that they had found the application process fairly or very difficult, and 15% of those who had not signed up said the main reason was the off-putting application process. Evidence was also provided in focus groups that lasting negative perceptions in this regard contributed to some eligible families not applying. Professional stakeholders also noted that the application process had created resourcing challenges for them.

Improvements were made to the application process, both to the online NEC application process and the systems of individual local authorities during the first year of operation, and were shown to have had an impact. Those who had applied more recently were more likely to find the process easy compared to those who applied before the changes were made. However, it was felt there remained scope and need for further improvements to the process, and that greater guidance and support was required for applicants, both in general and for specific groups that might find the process difficult/have difficulty providing the required documentation.

Access Limited by Bus Network

While the scheme itself was largely welcomed, it was felt that it had highlighted differences in provision and access to bus services across the country.

Respondents across all typologies stressed that differences in bus service provision meant that some young people benefited more from the scheme than others:

“I’m a bit disappointed that I can’t use the bus pass more often with my daughter, but it’s not because of the scheme, it’s because the services aren’t suitable.” (Parent/Carer of Scheme User)

Indeed, the main issues experienced since the introduction of the scheme were reliability or buses not turning up on time (49% of respondents), and that buses did not run often enough (45% of respondents). There were also increases in those experiencing service provision challenges since the scheme was introduced, including reliability (+12 percentage points), unsuitable timetables (+11 percentage points) and lack of frequency (+10 percentage points).

It was also felt that the scheme excluded some young people who may benefit from it. For example, it was noted that students aged 22+ were most likely to be in similar financial situations to those aged 21 and under, and there was a risk that existing student discount tickets would be removed as they were largely seen as redundant. In addition, it was highlighted that other vulnerable young people, such as unpaid carers, job-seekers, and care experienced young people aged 22+ also faced financial barriers to transport and may benefit from similar free travel support.

Capacity and Safety Concerns

Another common issue raised across all respondent types was capacity and safety concerns.

It was noted that the increase in young people using the scheme had created capacity issues, particularly on certain routes and around the start/end of the school day, as well as on demand responsive transport (DRT) where competition for services had increased. Focus group discussions found evidence that some bus users (both young people and those aged 22+) had changed their travel behaviour in order avoid using services that were particularly busy with young people.

In addition, 54% of follow-up survey respondents indicated that either they/their child or their friends or family had seen or experienced anti-social behaviour when using any form of public transport in the last 12 months, while 14% had seen or experienced bullying or discrimination over the same time period. While the majority of this was experienced on buses the experiences of other public transport users are likely to be under-represented here. Shouting and swearing, people being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and other aggressive or intimidating behaviour were the types of anti-social behaviour most often experienced. Meanwhile, the most commonly experienced types of bullying and discrimination were sexism/misogyny and racism, followed at lower levels by homophobia and agism towards children and young people.

Most focus group respondents also outlined concerns and personal experiences related to anti-social behaviour on buses. This was also a concern for professional stakeholders (particularly bus operators, local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships). It was felt that anti-social behaviour was happening on and around buses more often as a result of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme.

Due to the lack of robust data spanning pre- and post-scheme implementation it is not possible for this evaluation to say whether instances of anti-social behaviour had truly increased, decreased, or remained static since the introduction of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme.

Survey respondents indicated that they felt safer on buses than any other mode of public transport during the day (76% felt safe on-board buses either always or often during the day). Meanwhile, although buses ranked third (39%) in terms of perceived safety at night, behind trams (44%) and trains (40%), there had been a slight improvement in perceptions of safety using buses at night since the introduction of the scheme. Those who always or often felt safe using the bus at night increased from 37% in the baseline, to 39% in the follow-up survey.

In addition, there was an 11 percentage point drop in the proportion who had experienced safety concerns at night, and a six percentage point drop in those who had experienced safety concerns when travelling alone.

Similarly, several focus group respondents, and young women in particular, indicated that they would feel safer using the bus at night compared to walking alone/using other travel modes. Some were reassured by the presence and accessibility of the driver and other passengers, and others said that the scheme had reduced the stress of travelling alone or worry about how friends would get home safely at night.

Other Impacts

Finally, other notable issues raised, albeit by fewer respondents, included:

• Welfare concerns for young people having access to and using the scheme;
• Problems with cards not scanning on-board buses and inconsistent policies/ responses from drivers;
• That the scheme was supportive for both bus operators and young people in supporting recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic; and

Professional stakeholders discussed a range of impacts on the provision and use of school transport.