On the bustling streets of England’s towns and cities, the humble bus is a lifeline for millions. Yet for many—especially the young and the elderly—the cost, reliability, and very availability of bus services have become flashpoints in a national conversation about social inclusion, economic opportunity, and the future of public transport.
According to a BBC News report published on August 15, 2025, young people aged 22 and under in England are increasingly vocal about the “extortionate” cost of bus travel. For these young adults, high fares are more than a minor annoyance—they shape daily choices about work, education, and even the simple pleasure of meeting friends. “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,” said Maisy Moazzenkivi, 18, who spends £8 a day commuting from Coventry to her college. While Maisy benefits from a disability bus pass due to her autism, it only covers travel after 9:30 AM, half an hour after her classes begin. The result? Money that could go toward food or saving for small luxuries instead disappears into bus fares.
Maisy is not alone. Gracie Moore, 22, from Slough, spends a staggering £120 a month just to get to and from her job as an administration assistant. “For someone who is not earning much more than minimum wage, it’s quite a big expenditure,” Gracie told the BBC. The cost, she says, not only curtails her independence but also makes it harder to move out of her family home. Gracie, who previously lived in Madrid, can’t help but compare: “I don’t understand how it’s so extortionate here when other countries in Europe subsidise it so well. I just don’t know how the price of transport here can be justified.”
International students like Nikita Upreti, 20, at University College Birmingham, feel the squeeze even more. Since arriving in September 2024, Nikita has seen her monthly student bus pass rise from £49 to £53. Despite working the maximum 20 hours a week allowed by her university, she still struggles to pay rent and cover living expenses. “The student discount is not helping us anymore,” Nikita said, adding that free bus travel “would make a big difference” by freeing up money for essentials like groceries and educational materials.
Against this backdrop, MPs have stepped up calls for sweeping reforms. On August 13, 2025, the Transport Committee released a landmark report, ‘Buses connecting communities’, urging the government to introduce five-year funding settlements and establish a national minimum bus service for England. The report, as covered by industry sources, also recommends a pilot scheme for free travel for under-22s—a move that would bring England in line with Scotland, where such concessions already exist.
The Committee’s recommendations are rooted in stark data. Department for Transport statistics show that between 2008-09 and 2018-19, bus journeys outside London plummeted by 11.9%. The total number of bus journeys fell from 4.6 billion in 2009 to just 3.6 billion in 2024. The report links this decline to a toxic mix of social and economic pressures: the lingering effects of the pandemic, the rising cost of living, and years of what it calls “stop-start” funding for bus services.
It’s not just the young who are feeling the pinch. As Bristol Live reported on August 15, 2025, upcoming rule changes for free bus passes for those over 70 are set to take effect later this year. While the government-funded scheme, managed by local councils, will continue to offer free local bus travel to most over-70s, the new rules introduce tougher eligibility checks and digital passes linked to photo ID to prevent misuse. Some councils now require existing pass holders to periodically reconfirm their eligibility, and updated documents may be needed to keep passes active. For those who don’t qualify, options like Senior Railcards, off-peak bus passes, and community transport services provide alternative (if sometimes limited) relief.
The age of eligibility for free bus passes varies across the UK. In England, the threshold is 70 (tied to the state pension age), while in Scotland and Wales, residents qualify from age 60. Northern Ireland offers free travel on both buses and trains for those over 70. The differences highlight a patchwork of provision that can leave some groups better served than others.
For many, the stakes are high. The Transport Committee’s report highlights the plight of a Dorset resident in her seventies who became “far more isolated, lonely and depressed” after local buses were cancelled. Committee chair Ruth Cadbury MP underscored the importance of buses, saying they are “fundamental to many people’s quality of life.”
To address these challenges, the Committee’s proposals are ambitious. They call for a clear, coherent fares strategy, rural-weighted funding to reflect longer distances and lower population densities, and a dedicated framework for demand responsive transport (DRT) within 18 months. The report also advocates for ringfenced support for “socially necessary” routes—those that might not be commercially viable but are vital for community wellbeing.
Industry and advocacy groups have largely welcomed the recommendations, though with caveats. The Local Government Association praised the call for “sufficient, simplified and long-term funding,” warning that piecemeal grants risk undermining passenger confidence. The Campaign for Better Transport described the report as offering “the ingredients for a rural bus renaissance,” while Bus Users UK called it “a wake-up call and an opportunity.”
Operators, represented by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), argue that perceptions of a “decade of decline” are outdated, pointing to an 8% rise in journeys across Britain last year and a 10% increase in England outside London. The CPT supports a national bus strategy and youth initiatives, suggesting a £1 fare cap for young people (similar to a scheme launching in Wales) could be a cost-effective alternative to universal free travel. They estimate such a cap would cost between £100 million and £150 million a year, and stress that five-year funding visibility and bus-priority measures are essential for delivering minimum service levels.
The government, for its part, points to its ongoing investment. The Department for Transport says it is spending “£1bn in multi-year funding to improve the reliability and frequency of bus services across the country.” The Transport Committee’s report notes a government commitment of around £900 million per year for buses over the next three years, but argues that only longer-term, multi-year settlements will provide the certainty needed for real improvement.
As the debate continues, the stories of Maisy, Gracie, Nikita, and countless others serve as a reminder that buses are more than just vehicles—they’re a vital part of daily life, connecting people to opportunity, support, and community. With reforms on the horizon and the pressure mounting, the next year could prove pivotal for England’s bus passengers young and old alike.