‘Bus Fares Eat My Budget’: Under-22s Join Call for Free Travel

Young people have told the bbc the “extraconte” cost of bus travel in england means they socialize less and struggle to pay rent.

A report by mps has recommended everyone under the age of 22 should get free bus travel to help them get into work and education – Similar to in Scotland.

The department for transport says it is alredy spending “£ 1bn in multi-yar funding to improve the relief and frequency of bus services accountry”.

But the bbc has heard from people aged 22 and under who say business are too expensive and eat into their food budget.

Maisy Moazzenkivi, 18, Lives in Coventry with Her Mum, Dad and Brother, and Travels Almost Two Hours Each Way to Get to College, Four Days A Week.

Maisy, has a disability business trust of her autism, meaning she pays less for travel than her friends. However, She still spends £ 8 a day on getting to college as her free travel allowance only kicks in after 09:30, half an hour after she needs to be there.

She says money

“Sometimes, when I Finish College I’m Really Hungry and Just Want to get a meal deal or sometising for the way, but it’s so expert on top of everything Feed me, but not everyone has that. ”

If Bus Travel was free, maisy says

“I know it does not sound like a big deal, or an essential item, but one day, I’d love to save for a juicy couture tracksuit,” She said.

Gracie Moore, 22, Lives in Slough and Catches the bus every day to and from work, which costs her £ 120 a month.

“For someone who is not earning much more than minimum wage, it’s quite a big experture,” Says gracie who works as an administrative assistant for a care home firm.

She says the high cost of Travel for Young People Makes It Diffort to Navigate a Job and A Social Life.

Travel costs are “absolutely” a factor which stop her from moving out from her family home, She says.

“I have less independence this way, but I’m paying so much less.”

Gracie Previous live in madrid, where she enjoyed unlimited travel on Bus, Train, Tube, and Tram) for only € 8 (£ 6.90) a month with a month with a young person’s travel card.

“I don’t understand how it’s so extraction here when other counts in europe subsidise it so well,” She says. “I just don’t know how the price of transport here can be justified.”

Originally from Nepal, Nikita Upreti, 20, is an International Student Study at University College Birmingham. She says the rising price of travel means it is geting “harder” to pay for her business myth month.

When nikita first moved to birmingham in September 2024, a monthly Bus Pass with a Student Discount Cost Her £ 49. Now, it costs her £ 53.

“The students discount is not helping us Anymore,” She says.

Nikita also works 20 hours a week as a waitress. Despite working the maximum amount of hours her university will allow her to while Studying, She Still Struggles to Pay Her Rent While Jugging the Rent

She says that free business travel “would make a big difference” to her life.

“I could spend the money I save on groceries and things that would help my education. It would be really helped.”