U22 bus pass uptake is 80% in some groups
The uptake of free bus passes for those under 22 in Perth and Kinross is now over 80 per cent in some age groups.
And Depute Provost Andrew Parrott has praised the scheme as “a means to help reduce poverty but also increase opportunity”.
A national evaluation of the scheme is expected to be published in due course.
And a draft version of Perth and Kinross Council’s Corporate Delivery and Improvement Plan for 2024/ 25 pledges to encourage more young people to apply for a bus pass.
As part of the Scottish Government scheme – which launched in January last year – young people aged five to 21 who live in Scotland for at least six months a year can apply for a free bus pass.
Children under the age of five could already travel for free.
The local authority’s plan, which went before Perth and Kinross Council on Wednesday, October 4, outlined a commitment to “increasing uptake of the National Entitlement Card for free bus travel to reduce travel costs”.
Cllr Parrott told councillors: “I welcome the promotion of the National Entitlement Card for free bus travel as a means of tackling poverty and reducing travel costs. I was hearing that across Scotland U22 travel by bus is now about a 110 per cent of pre-Covid levels and so this is very welcome as a means to help reduce poverty but also increase opportunity.”
A PKC spokesperson described uptake of U22 bus passes as “positive” and at least 80 per cent in some age groups.
The council representative said: “The introduction of free bus travel for under 22s is beneficial for the younger members of our communities and their families to get out and about locally and access leisure, recreation and other activities while saving on travel costs.
“Take-up levels for U22 bus passes in Perth and Kinross have been positive and particularly among young people where in most of the age groups the uptake of the free bus pass has been 80 per cent or higher.
“We understand that Transport Scotland has carried out a national evaluation of the scheme following its first full year of operation and will be publishing their findings in due course.”
The spokesperson added: “For the age groups from 12 years upwards, most of these have 80 per cent uptake or higher for the free bus pass.”
Cllr Parrott went on to tell elected members: “There is anecdotal evidence that many younger people highly value their bus pass.
“Without doubt by taking away the cost of bus travel, new opportunities for work and leisure are opened up to this group.”