This is a move in the right direction, but universally free bus travel would be much better. Bus networks become considerably more efficient when you remove all of the dwell time at stops caused by having to take fairs/check tickets/passes
Even a German style 58€ per month pass for all public transport would be good, even if it’s not completely free.
I would love something like that, I almost never use public transport and just cycle as its faster than the bus half the time. When I do use public transport its long distance trains and often costs £50-150.
Long-distance trains aren’t covered by the ticket, only regional trains.
For example, the trip Munich -> Berlin would take around 10-11 hours with 5-6 different trains you need to catch. If you paid for a long-distance train it would be 4.5 hours with no changes.
True, the ticket is not perfect, but it’s still very powerful - and if you’re at Uni maybe you can take some time during summer to explore the country. Plus, if you don’t get a ICE train, you’re Deutschlandticket is still valid for the local transport when you arrive.
We do have a month pass for bus and rail…
But it is only per region/zone, not nationwide…
So a ticket that only covers a 20km radius…
Costs £208… Per… Month…
Or you can go bus only for £93
And its a wonder why people are so car brained when even a 20 year old, fuel chugging SUV, costs half of that to own and run.
Absolutely, it would improve traffic more than just slapping a 3rd lane onto a ring road dual carriageway.
Scotland has had this since 2022 and it’s been a great success from what I can gather. There’s been some trouble with “hooligans” taking advantage and messing up buses or traveling to other towns to vandalise or pick fights but I think the press and gossips have blown it out of proportion.
Overall, freedom of movement is a good thing, even if there is a small bit of trouble due to it. Young’ns are young’ns and a percentage will cause trouble in some manner regardless of whether they can get about or not.
https://www.transport.gov.scot/concessionary-travel/under-22s-free-bus-travel/
Why should a 21 year old get free bus travel but not a 23 year old? Something like free bus pass for any education/training would make more sense surely.
Gotta start somewhere. This cutoff might be arbitrary and nonsensical, but its better to let this go through and then argue to expand the scheme. If the argument becomes that “these people can’t have this because everyone doesn’t get this”, then the govt will say that they don’t have money to give it to everyone, so no one gets anything.
Perfect being the enemy of the good… Or something.
