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Angus’ free bus travel scheme

Sevice Area:

transport

Sevice Area:

transport

Background

Rural bus services have been acutely strained by public spending cuts and route closures through the 2010s. Remote areas are caught in what one Angus councillor calls a ‘catch-22 situation’, where low-density populations yield lower passenger levels, so that services become less and less viable until they are cut. Service cuts further depress usage, resulting in more cuts – functioning as a negative feedback loop and dismantling connectivity. The Covid-19 pandemic made matters worse.


The local authority in Angus, north-east Scotland, is aware that accessible transport can make all the difference for residents facing financial difficulties. Extra grant funding has made it possible to address the issue. One-off Local Authority Covid-19 Economic Recovery (LACER) grants were issued to councils in Scotland in response to the downturn that followed the pandemic. Angus received a £1.6m support package from the Scottish Government, which councillors used for a range of projects to tackle problems such as fuel and child poverty.

Local Action

A portion of LACER funding was devoted to setting up a free bus travel scheme. The bus pass pilot catered for people struggling financially, including those receiving the school clothing grant, foodbank users and those in receipt of universal credit. Free bus travel was already available to 5–21 year-olds in Scotland, through the Young Scot National Entitlement Card. This latest LACER scheme was aimed at adults who did not fit the criteria for full welfare assistance but were still vulnerable as the cost-of-living soared. Free bus passes were allocated via referrals from specific agencies and council departments. Once issued with a pass, participants’ journeys were logged and the bus operating companies invoiced the council for the free travel.


Local organisations representing residents were involved in developing the scheme. For instance, welfare rights teams and community groups were consulted to decide how remaining LACER funds should be deployed. Alongside serving residents, the scheme was designed to increase uptake and thereby support the financial viability of transport services in isolated areas.


Angus delivered another pilot that finished in 2024, this time focused more closely on the issue of rural connectivity. A traditional rural bus route in the Sidlaw area was not well used or cost-effective but did provide a vital link between some rural communities. Consequently, a demand responsive transport (DRT) service was introduced to replace it, using on-demand, smaller vehicles to meet residents’ mobility needs. The DRT service will become permanent in 2025.

Impact on local residents

While councillors cannot prevent the devastating effects of inflation and soaring living costs, they have at least been able to remove some of the extra costs of travel. Accessible transport brings a wide range of social benefits, by increasing the availability and usage of other key services and enabling residents to participate in society more extensively. Many essential activities, including job interviews and medical appointments, depend on transportation. Transport also makes social contact possible, helping to improve wellbeing and alleviate isolation and distress.


The bus pass pilot commenced at the end of 2022, running for roughly 18 months before closing in the summer of 2024 as funding came to an end. Monitoring of the scheme showed that there is a need within Angus communities to support people with their transport needs. Feedback from passholders demonstrated that it made a positive impact. In total the scheme cost nearly £74,000 and just under 16,000 local bus trips were undertaken by the 673 passengers who were provided with travel passes. The five privately-owned bus operating companies saw the scheme as a way of encouraging passenger uptake and were keen to participate.


The DRT pilot was highly successful and will be made permanent. It was not only well-received and popular among residents but also cost-effective to run in comparison to the old service. The original bus route was around twice as expensive as the DRT service during the pilot.

Environmental Impact

The bus pass pilot was run in conjunction with the private operating companies and the council were unable to increase use of electric or bio-gas buses or make this a condition of their participation in the scheme. Nonetheless, encouraging public transport usage over driving private vehicles is crucial for cutting emissions and encouraging a socially and ecologically oriented ‘modal shift’.


The creation of the DRT service is greener than the previously underused bus service. Rather than functioning at all hours, DRT only operates when it is required, resulting in energy and emissions savings.

What's next?

Although the LACER funding came to an end, Angus’ pilot shows how free public transport options can positively impact people’s lives, particularly those on low incomes. The council is currently in the process of setting up the permanent DRT service following the success of the rural connectivity pilot.

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