News
August 23, 2025
New call to give all pensioners free bus travel between Scotland, England and Wales
An online petition wants to see governments negotiate UK-wide recognition of the concessionary bus travel scheme.
**Petition Calls for UK-Wide Free Bus Travel for Pensioners**
A growing online petition is urging governments across the United Kingdom to collaborate and grant all pensioners free bus travel, regardless of whether they reside in Scotland, England, or Wales. The petition highlights what many see as an inconsistency in the current concessionary bus travel scheme, which offers free bus travel to older residents within their respective nation but doesn't extend the benefit across borders.
Currently, pensioners in Scotland, England, and Wales benefit from free bus passes within their own country, offering a vital lifeline for social inclusion, access to services, and reduced transport costs. However, this entitlement typically stops at the border. This means a pensioner living in Berwick-upon-Tweed, for example, just a short distance from Scotland, cannot use their English bus pass to travel freely across the border into Scotland, and vice versa.
The petition argues that extending the scheme UK-wide would not only simplify the system but also significantly improve the lives of countless pensioners. It would allow them to visit family and friends living in different parts of the UK more easily, access specialist healthcare services that might be located across the border, and generally broaden their horizons without incurring significant travel expenses.
Supporters of the petition emphasize the potential economic benefits as well. Increased travel by pensioners could boost local economies in border towns and tourist destinations, as older people are more likely to spend money in local shops, cafes, and attractions.
The petition organizers are calling on the Scottish Government, the UK Government, and the Welsh Government to engage in constructive negotiations to establish a unified, UK-wide concessionary bus travel scheme for pensioners. They believe that a collaborative approach is essential to address the current limitations and create a fairer, more accessible transport system for older people across the UK.
The petition has already garnered significant support, demonstrating the widespread public interest in this issue. As the number of signatures continues to grow, it remains to be seen whether the respective governments will heed the call and work towards a resolution that benefits pensioners throughout the United Kingdom. The outcome could have a significant impact on the lives of older people and the economies of border regions for years to come.
A growing online petition is urging governments across the United Kingdom to collaborate and grant all pensioners free bus travel, regardless of whether they reside in Scotland, England, or Wales. The petition highlights what many see as an inconsistency in the current concessionary bus travel scheme, which offers free bus travel to older residents within their respective nation but doesn't extend the benefit across borders.
Currently, pensioners in Scotland, England, and Wales benefit from free bus passes within their own country, offering a vital lifeline for social inclusion, access to services, and reduced transport costs. However, this entitlement typically stops at the border. This means a pensioner living in Berwick-upon-Tweed, for example, just a short distance from Scotland, cannot use their English bus pass to travel freely across the border into Scotland, and vice versa.
The petition argues that extending the scheme UK-wide would not only simplify the system but also significantly improve the lives of countless pensioners. It would allow them to visit family and friends living in different parts of the UK more easily, access specialist healthcare services that might be located across the border, and generally broaden their horizons without incurring significant travel expenses.
Supporters of the petition emphasize the potential economic benefits as well. Increased travel by pensioners could boost local economies in border towns and tourist destinations, as older people are more likely to spend money in local shops, cafes, and attractions.
The petition organizers are calling on the Scottish Government, the UK Government, and the Welsh Government to engage in constructive negotiations to establish a unified, UK-wide concessionary bus travel scheme for pensioners. They believe that a collaborative approach is essential to address the current limitations and create a fairer, more accessible transport system for older people across the UK.
The petition has already garnered significant support, demonstrating the widespread public interest in this issue. As the number of signatures continues to grow, it remains to be seen whether the respective governments will heed the call and work towards a resolution that benefits pensioners throughout the United Kingdom. The outcome could have a significant impact on the lives of older people and the economies of border regions for years to come.
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