Press Release: Free Bus Travel for Under-22s
/APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR SCOTLAND'S YOUNG PERSONS' FREE BUS TRAVEL
UNDER 22's CAN NOW APPLY FOR FREE BUS TRAVEL SCHEME
Alan Brown MP has welcomed the opening of the application process for free bus travel for young people, under the age of 22 years old, in Kilmarnock and Loudoun.
From today, all young people and children aged 5-21 years old in AREA can apply for their new or replacement National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot NEC to access the scheme from 31 January 2022. The scheme, extending free bus travel to everyone aged 22, builds on the Scottish Government’s commitment to providing free bus travel to all under-19’s in Scotland which started in August 2021.
The MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun has welcomed the initiative which is set to benefit around 930,000 young people across Scotland and pointed to research from Transport Scotland indicating that 70% of young people would use public transport more frequently if it was free.
The scheme will be delivered in partnership with Transport Scotland, the Improvement Service, the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO), Young Scot, local authorities and bus operators.
Commenting, Mr Brown said:
"I am delighted that applications are now open for young people in Kilmarnock and Loudoun, under the age of 22, to apply for free bus travel across the country. This is a hugely significant commitment from the Scottish Government that will benefit hundreds of thousands of young people across the country.
"Young people in the constituency are rightly challenging their elected representative to take bold actions to create a sustainable future for them and free bus travel is an example of what can be done to rise to this challenge.
"As Spokesperson for Energy & Climate Change, I welcome this initiative as we continue to take steps to combat the climate emergency. This also leaves more money in young people's pockets to spend on their education, work and leisure activities.
"Whilst we continue to live through the pandemic, we all recognise that essential travel must be prioritised, so I want to specifically encourage children and young people with essential journeys to apply now.
“The SNP Scottish Government is once again investing in our young people’s future, supporting them to have the best possible start in life and creating the fairer, greener Scotland that we want to build.”
