The Scottish Greens are urging ministers to use this month’s Scottish Budget to extend free bus travel to everyone under 30, arguing the move would ease the cost of living crisis and accelerate progress towards climate targets. The proposal would build on the existing concessionary scheme for under‑22s, which has already enabled around 250 million free journeys since its launch.
Party co-leader Ross Greer said the current scheme had been “a huge success”, with “hundreds of thousands of young people…saving money, finding new opportunities, and helping to tackle the climate crisis”. He described free bus travel for young people as “one of the clearest achievements of the Scottish Parliament”, highlighting that many families had saved “thousands of pounds” at a time when other household costs have soared.
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The Greens argue that support should not end abruptly when people turn 22, noting that many in their twenties still face low pay, insecure work and rising rents. Greer warned that for those who lose eligibility at 22 “the impact of losing their bus pass is huge, with new travel costs eating into their budgets”, leaving “too many workers in their 20s…trapped in a cycle of ever-rising costs and insecure work”.
Extending the pass to under‑30s would give more than half a million additional people access to free bus travel, according to the party. The Greens say this would open up fresh opportunities for work, training and education, as well as allowing young adults to travel more easily across Scotland for social and cultural activities.
Framing public transport as central to both social justice and climate policy, Greer said “lowering the cost of public transport is a win-win for people and planet”. He confirmed that the party will push for the extension “as soon as possible” during budget talks, signalling that free bus travel for more young adults will be a key Green demand in the negotiations.
