Free bus passes, aka the National Concessionary Travel Scheme, have certainly been a massive boon to older folk in Scotland since their introduction back in 2006, regardless of your political view. It it has been argued that the trouble with the scheme is its universality, but what is often overlooked is that the greatest value of the scheme accrues to those that have suitably frequent and accessible bus services, i.e. people in larger towns e.g. on commuter routes and those in cities. Older people in rural areas – remote or otherwise – without access to a car or family network, who may be on low incomes, have mobility or health problems or any combination of these, will feel pretty isolated with or without the scheme. It is hard not to be moved by the stories that accompany Age Scotland research that casts further light on the problem.
While this problem isn’t exclusively rural any more, by and large remote rural communities are the hardest hit. As commercial operators withdraw from unprofitable routes, many folk will rely on Local Authority “supported services” to fill the gap. Yet these are too often inadequately constructed, don’t connect well to other services (bus or rail) and have really become a last resort form of transport, and are substantially underutilised. Community based transport, demand responsive solutions and taxis all seem better options in areas where demand will always be low.
And now it seems that Age Scotland is campaigning the Scottish Government to adjust the Concessionary Travel Scheme so the bus pass holders can use it with Community Transport Services. This seems sensible, though no doubt operators will complain that they are also asking for the full fare reimbursement, unlike commercial operators who receive 67% reimbursement. The argument goes that community operators are unlikely to be able to cross subsidise services.
If you would like to support the Age Scotland Campaign, there are a string of things you can do and we’ve cheekily copy pasted their list from here:
If you can spare 1 minute
Add your signature to the Still Waiting petition and send an e-message to your MSP.
If you can spare 5 minutes
Encourage your friends, family and colleauges to add their names to the Still Waiting petition.
You can do this easily on social media.
If you can spare a bit more time
Be local Still Waiting activist
You might collect signatures for our petition with the Still Waiting campaign pack.
• Are you passionate about the campaign, and believe that you can communicate its importance to others?
• Could collect signatures, from friends, family and colleagues?If yes, please download our petition sign up sheets:
Download petition sheets (pdf)Download guidance for returning your petition sheets (pdf)
Alternatively, request a hard copy pack including our research and case study publications, petition sheets and ‘bus-pass’ props which you might ask your elected representatives to sign.
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By post to Still Waiting: Age Scotland, Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PR.
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We will need your full name, address and telephone details and, if you have one, your contact email address.
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A meeting with your local MSP about the issue, and to ask whether, or she, is willing to support the campaign, can be highly effective. Our Guide to Lobbying will help you to do this.
