A growing campaign is calling for the extension of free bus travel to all people over the age of 60 in England, aiming to bring the country in line with Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, where this benefit is already granted at 60.
Currently, access to free travel in England depends on local authority funding, with only a few areas, such as London and Merseyside, offering it before state pension age.
According to DevonLive, a petition advocating for this change has gained momentum, surpassing 40,000 signatures and sparking national debate.
The Current Disparity in Eligibility for Free Bus Travel
In the UK, residents of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are entitled to free bus travel from the age of 60, unlike in England, where the benefit starts at 66 for most people. This discrepancy has sparked widespread debate about the fairness of the current system.
The Rise in Support for the Petition
The petition, started by campaigner Karen Hickman, has gained significant momentum, gathering over 40,000 signatures.
It calls for the government to extend the free bus travel benefit to all over-60s in England, arguing that it is unfair for people in England to have to wait until the state pension age for free travel when their counterparts in other parts of the UK already enjoy this benefit.
The petition states :
“We call on the Government to extend free bus travel to all people over 60 years old in England outside London. We believe the current situation is unjust and we want equality for everyone over 60.”
Government Response and Local Authority Involvement
In response to the petition, the Department for Transport has emphasised that any changes to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) would need careful consideration due to the scheme’s annual cost of around £700 million.
The government has pointed out that local authorities in England have the power to provide additional concessions beyond the statutory requirements, although financial constraints make this expansion unlikely in many areas.
The Department for Transport stated :
“The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme costs around £700 million annually. Any changes to the statutory scheme must be carefully considered for their impact on its financial sustainability.”
The Impact on Public Transport and Taxpayers
While advocates argue that providing free bus travel to over-60s would ensure greater equality and support those who are less able to drive, the Department for Transport has warned that expanding the ENCTS could significantly increase costs for taxpayers.
The current system provides free off-peak bus travel to those over 66, and extending this provision would require substantial financial resources. Simon Lightwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department for Transport, said :
Any modifications could lead to increased costs for taxpayers.
Extension of Free Travel to Disabled Individuals
Separate from the calls for extending free bus travel to the over-60s, there are also growing calls to expand the scheme to include disabled individuals. Liberal Democrat Daisy Cooper recently asked whether the Department for Transport had assessed the potential benefits of offering free anytime bus travel to all disabled bus pass holders.
The response indicated that such modifications would have significant financial implications. Simon Lightwood further explained :
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations would therefore need to be carefully considered for their impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.
