Emma Roddick MSP has welcomed the news that 31,083 children and young people in across the Highlands and Islands are benefiting from free bus travel since the introduction of the SNP Government’s scheme for under 22’s.
In figures released this week (20th September 2022), the Scottish Government revealed that – as of 12 September 2022 – a total of 483,931 children and young people across Scotland are cardholders under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme and that a total of 21,723,100 journeys made under the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme since its introduction.
Commenting Roddick said:
“It is brilliant that so many children and young people across the Highlands are already benefiting from the SNP Scottish Government’s free bus travel and I want to make sure that even more young people take advantage of this.
“This initiative is not only about helping our young people get about more often and more easily – whether that be local journeys or journeys right across Scotland – but it is also about embedding more sustainable travel behaviour from a young age which will support all of our efforts to tackle the climate emergency.
“It also is a key way of maintaining vital services in many areas, especially rural or outlying ones, and can provide help to people struggling with the cost of living crisis right now – by making travel affordable.”
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Table (below) shows the number of cardholders under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme
| Local Authority | Cardholders |
| Argyll & Bute | 5,589 |
| Highland | 13,341 |
| Moray | 6,996 |
| Orkney Islands | 1,288 |
| Shetland Islands | 2,487 |
| Eilean Siar | 1,382 |
| Highlands & Islands Total | 31,083 |
Emma Roddick MSP 