The £2 bus fare cap is to be welcomed but policy is only be a sticking plaster
It is no surprise that one of Andy Burnham’s first major policy announcements as Prime Minister sees the £2 bus fare cap reinstated. The former Mayor of Greater Manchester knows too well the importance of affordable public transport, having expanded bus nationalisation there through the Bee Network.
The importance of affordable public transport to working people cannot be underestimated. People across Yorkshire who are reliant on the buses will be pleased at the idea of an extra pound in their pocket. However, the commitment only runs until March 2027.
This is another example of a sticking plaster being applied to a problem rather than the root cause being dealt with. That is not to say that sticking plasters don’t have a place, given the current circumstances, it’s probably the most that the Government can do. But expecting this to be enough and for the problems to disappear would be a grave mistake.
While bus franchising is starting to spread across the country with local areas taking control of their services there is still a lot of work to be done in restoring networks that have been gutted over the decades, leaving entire communities isolated and inhibiting economic growth.
The demand is clearly there for affordable public transport. That was illustrated when the Tories originally introduced the £2 bus fare cap in January 2023. Parts of Yorkshire saw a surge in the number of bus journeys off the back of the introduction of the cap.
Bus travel is not just important for people getting to and from work or education but also for social purposes. When faced with a loneliness pandemic, it is important that people are given the opportunity to get out of their homes and into their towns, villages and cities. That is why the lowering of the fares is to be welcomed.