Just 7.6% of young Glaswegians signed up to free bus travel scheme

Councillor Eva Murray has described the poor uptake as “shocking” and said she has heard “horror stories” of young people and parents just abandoning the process.

Only 7.6 per cent of the 107,000 young people eligible for the travel pass in Glasgow – 8,209 – have so far managed to get their hands on one. In Edinburgh the number is double – at 16,580 – despite having a lower number of people entitled (84,800).

Mentioning recently seen figures, Labour councillor Murray told the city administration committee: “There are 107,00 eligible young people in Glasgow. So far only 8,209 have benefited. That is less than 10 per cent. I think it is lower than any other city in Scotland. What are we doing as a council to try and address that?”

Speaking today following last week’s meeting she added: “This abysmal take-up in Glasgow is a direct consequence of the Scottish Government’s botched handling of this process.

“We’ve heard horror stories from young people as well as parents giving up because the application form is just too complicated. SNP and Green politicians were more interested in catching a headline than in helping the under-22s catch a bus.”

Responding to councillor Murray’s concerns at the meeting, council officer Deborah Paton said: “I know our financial inclusion unit have been working quite closely with Glasgow Life in trying to promote uptake of the scheme. I think there have been some issues with the application process for that. It seems quite complicated.”

She said Transport Scotland have launched a new app to try and improve the process.

Ms Paton added: “I would reassure you that it is early days in the scheme and efforts are ongoing to try and encourage our young people to take it up.”

Calling for the applications to be made easier, SNP councillor Anna Richardson said: “I don’t think it is any secret that I myself have some concerns about the way that has been rolled out. That is of course a matter for Transport Scotland and partners who have been rolling that out.

“I would like to see that process simplified as much as possible to ensure everyone who needs and is entitled to access to that has it as quickly as possible.”

The free bus pass scheme for under 22s began on January 31.

The Scottish Government website says young people need a National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot NEC with the valid free travel entitlement with them whenever they need to take the bus.