Charity launches campaign for better bus pass

Today Age Scotland launched its Still Waiting campaign for a better bus pass scheme at South West Community Transport in Glasgow. 

The campaign calls on the Scottish Government to adjust the National Concessionary Travel (NTS) scheme so that the free bus pass for older people is valid on community transport services.   Members of the public are being invited to sign a petition backing this call in Age Scotland's charity shops across Scotland or, alternatively, to sign an online petition.  The Charity also launched a research report, titled Driving Change, in support of the campaign.

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont MSP was there with Paliamentary colleagues Richard Baker and Elaine Murray to give backing, along with partner charities including Community Transport Association Scotland and Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. 

Richard Baker MSP, Scottish Labour's Infrastructure and Capital Investment spokesperson, said: "This is a tremendously important report from Age Scotland who are to be congratulated for carrying out this research. It shows the importance of community transport and the increasing role it could play in helping our older people access key services.

"It also shows the gaps in provision in the current concessionary travel scheme - there is no point in giving someone a free bus pass if there isn't a bus for them to use it on. The challenge for all political parties is to reflect on the recommendations of this report to see how they can be implemented.

"The ambition has to be a scheme which is sustainable for the future and actually meeting the needs of our older people."

Age Scotland Chief Executive Brian Sloan said: "Community transport providers such as South West Community Transport are vital for ensuring that otherwise isolated older people stay in touch with their communities, by offering transport in circumstances where commercial bus companies say they can't turn a profit.

"The change we're calling for will boost and stabilise funding for community transport services, enabling them to grow and develop to meet the needs of our ageing population."

Age Scotland has gathered case studies from across Scotland highlighting the limitations of the current bus pass scheme.  One of them, South West Community Transport service user Jacqui, said: "The service is a lifeline, but they are constantly living under the threat of closure. I don't know what I would do if they weren't here, as I couldn't afford to take taxis and I would have to depend on my daughter for everything."

Download the Driving Change report

Download case studies booklet

Visit the campaign online hub