Young people in England should be offered free bus travel to improve access to jobs, training, and education, and to encourage long-term public transport use, MPs have recommended in a new report aimed at reversing a steep fall in bus ridership.
The Commons Transport Committee is calling for the English national concessionary travel scheme — which currently provides free bus travel for pensioners and some disabled people — to be expanded to include all those under 22. The committee proposes a pilot scheme to test the policy before national rollout.
Passenger numbers in England have dropped by 20% since 2009, according to the report, with the number of routes in non-urban areas down by 18% since the pandemic. The committee warned that more than half of small towns have become “transport deserts” for people without access to a car.
While MPs welcomed plans to devolve more powers over bus services to local transport authorities, they cautioned that such measures alone would not address the needs of smaller towns and rural communities, which often face higher operating costs and limited resources.
The cross-party group made several key recommendations to boost bus usage and accessibility, including:
Setting minimum service levels for all local transport authority areas by the end of the current parliament, supported by long-term funding and multiyear budgets.
Introducing a rural weighting in bus funding formulas to reflect the higher costs of serving sparsely populated areas.
Establishing minimum standards for bus stops, such as providing real-time service information.
Developing a national policy for buses in England within 18 months to outline a clear vision for a high-quality, reliable network.
Committee members said these measures would help close connectivity gaps, improve integration between transport services, and make journeys more affordable for passengers.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said the government was already investing heavily in the sector. “After decades of decline, we’re providing a record £1bn in multi-year funding to improve the reliability and frequency of bus services across the country,” the spokesperson said.
The department also highlighted the forthcoming bus services bill, which it said would protect routes from closure, bring buses under greater local control, and “put passengers at the heart of services.” In addition, the government has extended the £3 fare cap until March 2027 to shield passengers from fare increases.
With bus use falling and routes disappearing, MPs say the time is right for bold action — and that making bus travel free for young people could be a crucial step in rebuilding a service fit for the future.
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