On buses across England, the cost of a simple journey has become a flashpoint for debates about fairness, opportunity, and the future of public transport. For young people, disabled passengers, and older Londoners, the price of getting from A to B is about more than just a fare – it’s about whether they can afford to work, study, or even see their friends.
Recent reporting by BBC News has shone a spotlight on the struggles faced by those under 22, who describe bus fares as “extortionate.” Maisy Moazzenkivi, an 18-year-old student from Coventry, spends £8 a day just getting to her college. Despite holding a disability bus pass due to her autism, Maisy’s free travel only starts after 9:30am – half an hour too late for her morning classes. “Sometimes, when I finish college I'm really hungry and just want to get a meal deal or something for the way home, but it's so expensive on top of everything,” she said. “I'm very lucky that I can go home and my family can feed me, but not everyone has that.”
Maisy dreams of saving up for small luxuries, but the cost of travel eats into every other part of her budget. “I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, or an essential item, but one day, I'd love to save for a Juicy Couture tracksuit,” she admitted, highlighting how even modest aspirations can feel out of reach for young people burdened by daily transport costs.
She’s not alone. Gracie Moore, 22, lives in Slough and shells out £120 a month on bus fares to commute to her job as an administration assistant. “For someone who is not earning much more than minimum wage, it's quite a big expenditure,” she told the BBC. The high cost of travel means Gracie can’t afford to move out of her family home, sacrificing independence for financial survival. She compares her experience in the UK to her time in Madrid, where she enjoyed unlimited travel for just €8 a month. “I just don't know how the price of transport here can be justified,” she said. “I don't understand how it's so extortionate here when other countries in Europe subsidise it so well.”
International students like Nikita Upreti, 20, face similar challenges. After moving to Birmingham in September 2024, she found her discounted monthly bus pass rising from £49 to £53 within a year. Despite working the maximum hours allowed alongside her studies, Nikita struggles to pay rent and buy groceries. “The student discount is not helping us anymore,” she said. “Free bus travel would make a big difference. I could spend the money I save on groceries and things that would help my education. It would be really helpful.”
These stories are not isolated. On August 15, 2025, a report by MPs recommended that everyone under 22 in England should receive free bus travel, mirroring a policy already in place in Scotland. The goal? To help young people get into work and education, and to ease the financial squeeze that’s making it harder for them to participate fully in society. The Department for Transport, for its part, says it is investing £1 billion in multi-year funding to improve bus reliability and frequency across the country.
But the debate over who should get a free ride doesn’t stop with the young. Disabled passengers are also pushing for change. Currently, the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme allows disabled individuals to obtain a free bus pass, but with a catch—it can only be used after 9:30am on weekdays. As reported by Chronicle Live on August 16, 2025, an online petition with nearly 800 signatures is calling for these restrictions to be lifted, arguing that the current rules hinder disabled people’s ability to work, attend school, or access essential services.
Nicola Holland, who started the petition, urged: “We urge the Government to change the English national concessionary travel scheme (ENCTS) so the disabled bus pass can be used at any time, including before 9:30am on weekdays. We believe it could allow all disabled people to access key services, education, and job opportunities, and contribute positively to society.” She added, “It could allow adults with disabilities to maintain employment and enhance punctuality. We believe this change could foster independence, social inclusion, and increased productivity, leading to economic benefits and potential public cost savings.”
The petition’s supporters argue that the current limitations are not just inconvenient—they’re a barrier to equality. If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the Government will be required to respond; if it hits 100,000, it could be debated in Parliament.
Meanwhile, in London, a different kind of fare battle is brewing. The 60+ Oyster photocard, which allows anyone over 60 living in a London borough to travel for free (with some weekday morning restrictions), has become a hot topic. According to The Standard, Transport for London (TfL) lost an estimated £84 million in foregone revenue in 2023/24 due to this scheme—a significant jump from previous years. With 382,737 active cardholders and 119,735 new registrations in 2024/25 alone, the financial impact is growing.
Critics say it’s time to rethink who benefits from free travel. Liz Emerson, CEO of the Intergenerational Foundation, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service, “On intergenerational fairness grounds, the Mayor of London must stop this free travel bung to workers below state pension age. Why should struggling younger workers facing unprecedented living costs continue to subsidise this freebie?” Reem Ibrahim of the Institute for Economic Affairs went further: “It’s absurd that Transport for London continues to give blanket travel discounts to everyone over 60, regardless of income, at a cost of £84million last year. This is not targeted support to those that are most in need. It disproportionately benefits the wealthiest demographic.”
Yet, many older Londoners and their advocates see the 60+ Oyster card as essential. Dennis Reed, Director of Silver Voices, countered: “Free Oyster Card travel for older people is a lifeline for many to prevent social isolation and loneliness. It more than pays for itself by improved mental and physical health, and enables activities such as unpaid caring of grandchildren so that parents can work and voluntary work worth billions to society. What sort of society are we becoming where essential benefits like this are being questioned?”
In response to mounting costs, TfL recently announced that the price to obtain a 60+ Oyster card will rise from £20 to £35, with annual eligibility checks increasing from £10 to £18. A TfL spokesperson emphasized, “Both the Mayor and TfL are committed to making public transport in London as accessible, convenient, and affordable as possible. We regularly review our range of concessions to ensure that they continue to benefit Londoners, while also remaining affordable for TfL to operate.”
As the cost-of-living crisis bites and public transport budgets are squeezed, the debate over who should get free or subsidized travel is unlikely to fade. Whether it’s a young student trying to afford lunch, a disabled passenger racing the clock, or an older Londoner seeking connection, the question remains: how can England’s buses serve everyone, fairly and sustainably?