Government Denies Free Bus Passes for Under 22s, Rejects Minimum Service Proposal

The UK government has denied free bus passes for under 22s and rejected proposals for minimum service levels, citing demographic and geographic challenges in England.

• The government, through the Department for Transport, stated that implementing minimum bus service levels nationally would be difficult due to significant differences in demographics, need and geography across England.
• Ruth Cadbury, a Member of parliament from the Labour Party (UK), criticized the decision, noting that rising bus fares, which outpace inflation, hinder access to essential services for young people.
• Recent statistics show a decline in bus journeys taken in England, indicating that without intervention, public transport accessibility will continue to diminish, affecting local communities.