Petition Gains Momentum to Stop £3 Bus Fare Cap Increase
Written by Henry Hague on 11th December 2024
Durham County Council has criticised the government’s decision to raise the bus fare cap to £3, warning that it will “make daily life more difficult for many residents”.
In October, the government announced that the £2 bus fare cap would be increased to £3 nationally from January 2025. The current limit of £2 was introduced by the previous Conservative government to help with the cost of living and had been due to come to an end on 31st December 2024.
But a member of the Joint Administration of Durham County Council has criticised the decision to increase the cap. Amanda Hopgood said: “We were disappointed to learn of the Government’s plans to increase the bus fare cap to £3. Many residents in County Durham are still dealing with the consequences of the cost of living crisis and this will add to their financial burden, making it more challenging to access jobs, education, services and recreation.
“Working with partners in the North East Combined Authority, Durham County Council is doing what it can to mitigate the impact of this national decision, by capping the cost of adult journeys at £2.50 from January, and retaining the flat £1 fare for young people aged under 21. However, there’s no escaping the fact that this decision by the Government will make daily life more difficult for many people in County Durham.”
Labour Member of Parliament for Coventry South, Zarah Sultana, is also against the increase. She has recently launched a petition to “keep bus fares affordable” particularly with the additional strain on low-income households during the cost-of-living crisis.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who is also against the increase, has already pledged to keep the £2 bus fare cap in his city, setting a strong example for the government in Westminster to follow, which shows the notable opposition to the increase.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The previous fare cap was due to expire at the end of 2024, with fares set to soar by as much as £13 on the most expensive routes, unless we intervened to keep fares down.
“Fares will only be allowed to increase with inflation in the normal way, and the £3 bus fare cap will lead to savings of up to 80% on some routes, keeping bus tickets affordable across the country.”
Data published by the Department for Transport shows that, in the year ending March 2024, 1 billion bus service miles were run in England. Concessionary journeys used by elderly, disabled, and youth passengers, accounted for 28% of all local bus passenger journeys in England. This means that out of the 1 billion miles, 280 million journeys were made by vulnerable individuals who rely on buses as a lifeline. Increasing the bus fare cap will have a significant impact on these vulnerable bus users from lower-income households.
The petition currently has more than 110,000 signatures, showing that people want the bus fare cap to remain at £2 for 2025. The bus fare cap is a crucial lifeline for bus users and campaigners want this to be highlighted.
As the use of public transport is promoted as a more sustainable and cost-effective option, campaigners for the bus fare cap say that it must remain accessible, affordable and convenient for those who use it and need it the most.
If you would like to show your support and sign the petition, here is the link, https://www.change.org/p/save-the-2-bus-fare-cap-keep-fares-affordable