Affordability matters
Bus Users UK has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s announcement of a £2 cap on bus fares, describing it as a major step towards making public transport more affordable and accessible.
Chief Executive Lydia Horbury said:
“For too long, we’ve spoken about the importance of buses while expecting passengers to shoulder rising costs. Today’s commitment turns words into action. It sends a clear signal that buses are not simply a safety net for those with no alternative, but a vital public service deserving of investment and confidence.
“For passengers, a third off bus fares is far more than a financial saving. It is access to employment without prohibitive travel costs. It is a student getting to college. It is an older person maintaining their independence. It is families able to make more journeys, more often. Affordable transport is opportunity in motion.
“At Bus Users UK, we have consistently championed the principle that the best bus services are those that people can afford, rely on and access with confidence. Today’s announcement addresses one of the greatest barriers to bus use.
“Investing in affordable bus travel is not simply transport policy, it is social policy, economic policy and climate policy rolled into one. Every full bus represents reduced congestion, cleaner air, stronger local economies and better-connected communities.
“This is also a powerful statement about the value government places on passengers. Too often, discussions about buses begin with funding models or infrastructure. Today, they begin with the people who use them – that shift matters.
“Of course, affordability cannot exist in isolation. A cheaper fare is only meaningful if there is a bus to catch, it arrives when it should and everyone can use it with dignity and confidence. The next challenge is to ensure that lower fares are matched by reliable and fully accessible services.
“But today deserves to be celebrated. When we invest in buses, we invest in people. And when we make buses more affordable, we make opportunity more accessible for everyone. Bus Users UK welcomes this announcement and looks forward to working with government, local authorities and operators to ensure its benefits are felt by every passenger, in every community.”