Scrapping free bus passes for older people would 'cost over £1.7bn a year'

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/09/scrapping-free-bus-travel-older-people-cost

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Every pound spent on concessionary bus travel for older people generates more than £2.87 of benefits for society and the wider economy, according to new research by consultants at accountancy firm KPMG.

The report adds that scrapping free bus passes could cost the UK economy more than £1.7bn a year due to the likely decline in volunteering and poorer health and well-being among older people.

The independent study was carried out for Greener Journeys – a national campaign to promote sustainable travel – amid fears that the austerity-driven government may not sustain current funding for the bus pass, available to the over-60s and disabled. Using official Department for Transport (DfT) guidelines, it found that for every £1 spent on the bus pass, more than £2.87 of benefits were generated.

The study reveals the scheme enables older and disabled people to have fuller and more efficient access to the key public services they need and to take part in activities that would not be affordable without the free pass. This freedom to travel has a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits, such as using local shops and being more able to look after children and care for others.

The schemes vary across the regions, with different levels of savings.

In London, it gives anyone over the age of 60 free travel on all of Transport for London's buses, tubes and trains – worth £3,268 a year.

The study says that four out of five of those eligible take up bus passes, and more than 1.2bn trips were taken across Britain by 12m pass holders in 2012/13.

According to Passenger Focus research, some 95% of passengers believe older and disabled people should be entitled to a free bus pass.