School children should receive free bus travel before pensioners?

[Itchthescratch]

My child is starting a school where it will cost around £2k for bus travel. This school is local and one of the closest schools to us. The other schools close to us are much worse in terms of opportunities and academic outcomes. I can afford the bus fare easily but I worry that some poorer families will really struggle to send their children to the higher achieving school because of the cost.

I understand that there isn't an endless pot of money but surely it would make sense to give school children free travel ahead of other groups like pensioners? School children are statistically much more likely to suffer from poverty (child poverty is almost double pensioner poverty)and it seems crazy that we aren't supporting social mobility whilst we let all pensioners travel for free on buses.

Only if you lived far enough away. I used to get the bus to primary school in the 1960s. It was 2 miles from our house so we didn’t qualify for free transport.

The bus fare was 3d each way. My sister and I travelled alone from the ages of 5 and 6.

And bike lanes.🙂

Op you will be pleased to know they are bringing back the £2 cap so your child's bus fare will be cheap soon. My dds bus fare is currently £19.50 a week so I think you are being ripped off paying 2k!

And brings how much into the economy because they're spending money instead of sitting at home?

It depends on your salary, but many people are

https://payetax.co.uk/blog/scottish-vs-english-tax-rates-2026-comparison

Your child's bus fare will be £10 a day?
A whole day ticket for an adult here is £5.

... which is because we have the incredible luck to live in a city with excellent public transport. Most people in the UK are not so fortunate.

In England, children who are eligible for free school meals get extended rights to home to school transport, which means they are allowed to attend one of the 3 nearest schools that are 2-6 miles away from their home (and up to 15 miles where a faith school is chosen). It isn’t perfect and I don’t think enough people are aware of it but it does provide more choice to those families.

Which is why I specified where I live, it does indeed make a difference

Yes, i pay significantly more tax in Scotland (over 3k per year, as a household), and i do think that it has skewed too high - but free bus travel for all young people is one of the things that reminds me it is worth it.

... and staying healthier, both physically and mentally, by getting out and about, taking exercise, getting involved in community activities, volunteering and so on.

No it is not insignificant but it some places it is only the pensioners using their free bus passes that keep the bus route going. The bus companies wouldn’t run without the money they get for this.

You tell me, but if brings loads of additional
spending surely that’s an argument for means testing?

How much do you think it brings to the economy to invest in children?

Same in London to 16 & then I think 18 if still in education

Well that isn’t working!

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/07/baby-boomers-living-longer-but-are-in-worse-health-than-previous-generations

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/pensioners-more-likely-boozers-than-youngsters-vw7fm9grg

This is a strange argument. If nobody is using the bus route then you can't just keep subsidising people to make it viable. Almost like a bribe. What an odd use of public money. Ultimately we are all paying to keep these buses that hardly anyone wants to use on the roads.

@Yetonewhy is that an argument against means testing?

Believe me, I was as shocked as you are. I don't know how poor families with multiple children can afford it.

Around here (SW London) children do get free bus travel.

I do sometimes wonder about it though - when I see a really fat kid - the same one more than once - taking the bus to go 2 stops which would take him a max of 20 minutes to walk.

School-only buses are ineligible for the cap.

Massively agree with you OP. Bus travel should be free for under 18s. And I very much hope the caps continue. Gets people outside and active, spending money on our highstreets, helps beat loneliness, and keeps cars off the roads. There are no downsides.

I am the age you are referencing and nobody I know walked 3 miles to school. My parents would never have allowed me to do this either in the dark. I quoted up thread that lots of women feel unsafe walking in the dark. Why are we asking kids to do this?

If you choose to not to send your child to the closest secondary school then you should fund it. Welfare spending exceeds income tax receipts. From this month anyone on UC with children will get free school meals, regardless of house hold income, that’s putting more on the welfare bill. There has to be a cut off point somewhere.

Because it wouldn’t be used if it wasn’t free.
Means testing is expensive and sometimes rules out the people who are just managing.
Just saying. As I don’t use my bus pass I am not that bothered. I always prefer to walk or drive.

I agree about the meals, I disagree about the bus fare. The argument would work if schools were all offering the same and all kids had a decent super local option. This just isn't the case.

Also I do agree about there being no more money, hence I suggested taking pensioner free travel away.