Scotland changes transport fares: what's happening

In the context of the 2021 agreement, Scotland is implementing a pilot program for accompanying blind passengers and is considering other initiatives to improve accessibility to public transport. These include fixed fares or free rail travel for such passengers.

This is part of the agreement under which the Scottish Greens joined the government with the SNP. What is proposed to be changed is described in an article by STV News.

As a reminder, in the 2021 agreement, the SNP and the Scottish Greens pledged to "increase investment in active travel and public transport, including a review of fair fares to provide a realistic and affordable alternative to driving."

First and foremost, it was planned to direct people to buses rather than cars, which was to be facilitated by fixed fares "according to the region."

According to Transport Minister Fiona Hislop, the new fare schemes will "provide an accessible, affordable and accessible public transport system that will enable people to make positive and active travel choices, leading to less use of their cars."

She emphasized that the right to bus passes, which are very important for families, will remain unchanged.

With this initiative, the government will try to reduce car kilometers by 20% by 2030.

Despite the government's statements, opponents have criticized the initiative. In their opinion, checking fair tariffs is simply a reversal of decisions made on the road. It is noted that the government does not propose any new solutions.

In addition, a number of options have been excluded from the schemes, namely the expansion of the concessionary travel scheme, which provides free bus travel to people under the age of 22 and over 60.

At the same time, Graeme Simpson, the Scottish Conservative Party's transport spokesman, called the innovation a disappointment.

According to him, the SNP had the opportunity to announce some immediate actions that could really make a difference. But instead, the promise of pilot fixed fares was announced. Somewhere and sometime.

"They could have accelerated a nationwide ticketing scheme. This is not going to happen," he reminded.

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