Green Party leader Ross Greer and First Minister John Swinney.
by Bill Heaney
Free Bus Travel and cheaper rail travel are two of the significant achievements of the last Scottish Parliament.
And they are being used by Green politicians and the SNP to improve their chances of success at the election on May 7.
Ross Greer is not being shy about it.
“Between young people, older people and disabled people, almost half of all Scots can now use the bus for free. The Scottish Greens want to go further.
“We believe that Scotland can be like Malta and Luxembourg and offer free bus travel to everyone. Does the First Minister agree and, if not, what is his alternative to help people save money on their transport costs?”
First Minister John Swinney told him: “All those steps are very welcome, but the Government has also put in place a £2 bus fare cap, which is being taken forward in the Highlands and Islands to determine how it can operate.
“We have abolished peak rail fares, and we have frozen rail fares so that more people can use public transport.
“Those are some of the measures that the Scottish Government is taking to make sure that people can access public transport and have a much greater choice when doing so.”
“On top of that, we established Scotland’s first nature restoration fund, we brought in the emergency rent freeze, and we wiped out school meal debts for thousands of struggling families.
“Green MSPs have delivered changes that have saved families a fortune and protected our planet. We know that the solutions to the climate crisis and the cost-of-living crisis are the same.
“We were proud to work with the First Minister and the Scottish National Party to deliver those changes, because the Greens believe in co-operating to take Scotland forward.
“However, those ideas were all put on the table by Green MSPs in the first place. We brought forward bold, progressive ideas, and we worked to deliver them. What is the First Minister’s favourite of the changes that the Greens have delivered in this Parliament?”
Mr Swinney replied: “I am very pleased that the Government that I lead can afford a balanced budget that puts the money in place to deliver on our policy priorities.
“As a consequence, I am very proud that, because of the steps taken by this Government, child poverty in Scotland is falling.
“It is 9 per cent below the levels in the rest of the United Kingdom, and that is because of the leadership of an SNP Government.”
The bus pass for older adults and now for younger persons too is an inspired choice that delivers on so many fronts.
By giving a pass to people it not just supports older people who might be of limited income to travel it also provides a subsidy to bus services that would otherwise not be viable and run. And it does this by paying a percentage of the ticket price to the bus company every time the concession car is used thereby supporting services whilst allowing older people, the opportunity to travel.
Thinks of the housing estate schemes round Dumbarton and the three buses and hour throughout the day and then think if these buses would be running if it were not for the concession fare income. Rather there would be buses in the morning at peak time and little or nothing till peak time in the late afternoon. And of course if the buses through the day became full then the proportion of ticket price subsidy would be reduced.
Its a concept that keeps old and young folk moving, keeps buses running for those who do not drive and need to go to work be they nurse, carer or whatever and all by giving subsidised national entitlement cards.
But think about this. I can’t remember the figures at the moment but if you took ten percent of travellers off the tube in London you would put around 100% more cars onto the road. Think about that. The purpose of transport is to provide accessibility but is confused with mobility and if everyone travelled by car there would be no accessibility because we’d all be stuck in car jams.
It makes so much sense. Well don the Scottish Government for introducing this and shame on the politicos who want to remove the bus pass, or restrict it.
It has moreover policy outcome similarities with free prescriptions, or at least free at the point of getting needed medication. But that’s another story where certain politicos are wanting to charge for health care.