The government has launched a campaign to encourage concessionary users back on board following a drop in free bus pass use since before the pandemic.
The “Take the Bus” drive is aimed at those aged 66-plus as well as eligible disabled people and will take the form of posters and social media assets being made available for local authorities, bus companies and others to customise, co-brand and use.
With stats revealing a 36% decrease in free bus pass use since 2019, the message of the campaign will be to use the bus to meet friends, connect with nature, take up new hobbies and visit more places.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper says: “We want those eligible to embrace all the benefits their concessionary pass can bring, with free bus travel allowing them to enjoy great trips out – all they need to do is ‘take the bus’.
“Around £1 billion a year of central and local government funding goes towards concessionary passes to help older and disabled people get out and about, while saving them money and helping grow the economy.”
The message to not use public transport during COVID-19 restrictions undoubtedly had a marked and prolonged effect in fewer older travellers using the bus. A Transport Focus survey in March 2022 found fear over the virus was the second most common reason given by concessionary users for boarding buses less often than before.
However, in common with a similar survey from the group 12 months later, the most-selected reason was that they were making fewer trips generally. Other most common reasons given in March 2023 for not increasing use over the last 12 months were reduced bus services (32%), reduced reliability of services (31%), fewer shopping trips (27%) and fewer health-related appointments (7%).
David Sidebottom, director at the independent watchdog Transport Focus, says of today’s news: “Passengers tell us that buses are a vital lifeline to help them see family and friends, visit highstreets, get to essential appointments, and connect them to the places and things they love. This campaign is great news for bus pass holders and hopefully they will take full advantage to get out and about and travel to places old and new.
“In Transport Focus’s forthcoming research, 91 per cent of free pass holders told us they knew a fair amount about their local bus service, so now is a great time to give it a go and take the bus.”
More political encouragement for increased bus use has long been hoped for in the industry.
Aaron Hill, CPT Cymru Director told routeone last month in relation to bus pass users: “When you think about why people stopped catching the bus, a lot of that was because of the pandemic and we had politicians saying not to travel on public transport for very legitimate reasons and we wouldn’t question those. But it would be great to now have politicians, leaders in Wales out there saying ‘the bus is a good thing, get on the bus.'”
Further highlighting the benefits of free bus use for older and disabled travellers, Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, today says: “The bus is a great way to access the best of what our city regions have to offer, whether that be world-class cultural experiences, great green spaces, or brilliant places to socialise and to shop.
“Local transport authorities play an important part in connecting our local communities and we encourage older people and those with disabilities who are eligible for a free concessionary pass, to take the bus and explore their local areas.”
However, today’s announcement is likely to spark further debate over the level of reimbursement paid to operators for concessionary users. The Local Government Association claimed on 29 June that local councils were being asked to plug a £452 million gap in central funding for the scheme.
The government itself says councils spend around £1 billion in reimbursing operators, provided through Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities funding.
Speaking in June on a Transport Focus webinar on the subject of concessionary use, Alison Edwards, Confederation of Passenger Transport Director of Policy, said in March she would welcome a review by the Department for Transport into concessionary reimbursement, which is scheduled to take place this year.
