The Scotland Government has activated free bus travel for the young under the age of 22 living in the country through a scheme that has the potential to transform bus travel while supporting children, young people and families.
In a statement released through the Ministry for Transport on Monday, while the benefit start from 31st January as the scheme is open to children and young people with a new National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot NEC.
Tens of thousands have already applied and received their card and will be able to start travelling for free from 31 January. Many more applications are in the pipeline as the programme gears up over the coming weeks.
Which now means that over two million people everyone under 22, everyone over 60, and disabled people and carers can now benefit from free bus travel in Scotland.
Reacting to the development, the Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth said, “I am delighted that from today, thanks to the Scottish Government, every young person under 22 in Scotland with an entitlement card can now travel for free by bus across Scotland.
She noted that extending free bus travel will make public transport more affordable, and help give many young people wider access to more education, leisure, and work opportunities.
“It will also support the choice to travel sustainably early in their lives. Increasing bus use will help us achieve our world-leading goal of reducing the number of kilometres travelled by car by 20% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2045.
“As we work to secure a green recovery from the pandemic, free bus travel will create new opportunities, protect our climate while at the same time reducing financial barriers for young people right across the country”, she said.
In a statement released through the Ministry for Transport on Monday, while the benefit start from 31st January as the scheme is open to children and young people with a new National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot NEC.
Tens of thousands have already applied and received their card and will be able to start travelling for free from 31 January. Many more applications are in the pipeline as the programme gears up over the coming weeks.
Which now means that over two million people everyone under 22, everyone over 60, and disabled people and carers can now benefit from free bus travel in Scotland.
Reacting to the development, the Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth said, “I am delighted that from today, thanks to the Scottish Government, every young person under 22 in Scotland with an entitlement card can now travel for free by bus across Scotland.
She noted that extending free bus travel will make public transport more affordable, and help give many young people wider access to more education, leisure, and work opportunities.
“It will also support the choice to travel sustainably early in their lives. Increasing bus use will help us achieve our world-leading goal of reducing the number of kilometres travelled by car by 20% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2045.
“As we work to secure a green recovery from the pandemic, free bus travel will create new opportunities, protect our climate while at the same time reducing financial barriers for young people right across the country”, she said.
