By Democrat reporter
Local Green MSP Ross Greer, right, has welcomed new figures showing the “remarkable” number of bus journeys taken by young people in West Dunbartonshire since the launch of the Scottish Greens’ under-22s concessionary bus travel scheme.
Since starting in January 2022, young people from West Dunbartonshire have taken 2,986,088 fare-free journeys, with over 150 million free journeys being taken across Scotland.
There are 14,156 young people under the age of 22 with concessionary travel cards in West Dunbartonshire. Under-22s without a card can register for theirs at www.freebus.scot.
Welcoming the new statistics, West Dunbartonshire’s Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer said: “These new numbers are a clear sign of the runaway success of free bus travel for young people, a policy secured and delivered by the Scottish Greens.
“14,156 young people getting fare-free bus travel across West Dunbartonshire is great news for family budgets and for our planet.”
“Free bus travel has been genuinely life-changing for many. It has opened up access to education, employment, sports and culture and saved families hundreds of pounds a year on bus fares or petrol costs.
“And in many communities across the West of Scotland it’s this surge in young people using the bus which is protecting services from cuts.
“In some cases services have even been expanded due to this increased demand, benefiting everyone. I’m proud that a scheme secured by Green MSPs is making a real difference to people’s lives in West Dunbartonshire and helping us to tackle the climate crisis.”