Fair bus fares for young people: A policy briefing assessing bus fare support for young people across the UK

Collings, Sarah; Chatterjee, Kiron; Cope, Andy

Abstract

Between the ages of 16 and 24, young people experience a succession of life changes. During this time, transport plays an important role in helping young people to connect to new experiences, to become independent and to develop their identify. However, young people across the UK say transport can be a barrier to them accessing the places, opportunities and people they need to help them to thrive. Many young people are reliant on buses, yet the cost of bus use is a particular challenge for this group. This policy briefing assesses the current situation with regards to bus fare support for young people across the UK. It explores the features and outcomes of existing, ambitious schemes that are making the cost of the bus more manageable for young people aged 16-24. Guided by young people, it concludes with the changes that are needed to make buses fairer for young people aged 16-24.

• Report Type: Policy Document
• Acceptance Date: Jul 26, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jul 26, 2022
• Publication Date: Jul 26, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jul 27, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 27, 2022
• Pages: 34
• Keywords: Bus travel; Bus fares; Transport; Young people; Social inclusion; Long-term health outcomes
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9753173
• Publisher URL: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/projects/2021/england/transport-to-thrive/
• Related Public URLs: https://blogs.uwe.ac.uk/research-business-innovation/fair-bus-fares-for-young-people-policy-briefing/
• Additional Information: The Fair Bus Fares for Young People policy briefing is produced as part of the project Transport to Thrive which aims to build the case for transport policy that better meets the needs of young people aged 16-24. Transport to Thrive is a partnership project between the Centre for Transport and Society at UWE Bristol and Sustrans. It is part of the Health Foundation’s Young People’s Future Health Inquiry. The Health Foundation is an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK.