Bus travel should become free to help people out of their cars and drive down greenhouse gas emissions, environmental campaigners have urged.

The proposal comes ahead of the release of official figures which are expected to show transport was the biggest contributor to the UK’s carbon pollution problem in 2017.

Provisional data for the year shows transport – excluding international flights and shipping – accounted for 34% of carbon emissions, with road transport the most significant source of pollution, in particular passenger cars.

A study from Friends of the Earth and think tank Transport for Quality of Life suggests that to meet goals to curb global warming to no more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, large scale changes to transport are needed.

Even with a faster switch to electric cars and cutting carbon emissions from the electricity grid, a reduction of at least 20% in the number of miles driven by car is needed by 2030, the report said.

So it proposes extending the current free bus pass scheme for older people to those who are aged 30 and under, and calls for local authorities to consider making bus travel free to everyone over time.

Where buses are already free

Free bus travel is already happening in around 100 towns and cities, including more than 30 in the US and 20 in France as well as in Poland, Sweden, Italy, Slovenia, Estonia and Australia, the report said.

Such a move would not only help tackle the pollution which is causing climate change, but deliver other benefits such as reducing traffic and noise, improving air quality and boosting health, the campaigners argue.

Before it could happen in the UK, the public transport system would have to be re-regulated and sources of funding would have to be put in place.

Mike Childs, head of research at Friends of the Earth, said: "It’s an idea whose time has well and truly arrived.

"Free bus travel for the under 30s at first, before widening the scheme, would make for more liveable cities and cut damaging greenhouse gas emissions.

And he said: "It would cost around £3 billion a year but this is a fraction of the money spent on roads.

"Three times more journeys are by bus than train and they are the main means of transport for the car-less quarter of the population.

"What we are seeing instead is bus fares rising 75% over the last 15 years, and over 3,300 services reduced or removed since 2010 in England and Wales."

"Transport needs a complete overhaul"

Lynn Sloman, director of Transport for Quality of Life, said: "Our research makes it clear that UK transport policy requires a complete overhaul to enable us to comply with greenhouse gas reduction needs and other pressing public health concerns such as air quality and obesity.

"We can learn much from other countries across the world, particularly on how to manage and deliver a well-regulated high-quality public transport service."

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said: "Labour is already committed to re-regulation of bus services, which Friends of the Earth identify as a necessary first step to improving public transport to give low-carbon alternatives to driving."

And he said Labour would provide free bus travel for under-25s where services are brought under public control, "a big step" towards the recommendation that under-30s should be able to travel free by bus.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Transport said: "As set out in our road to zero strategy, the Government’s ambition is for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040.

"We are investing £1.5 billion to make this happen.

"We also support bus travel through £250 million every year, as well as a further £1 billion for the free bus pass scheme, paving the way to a more sustainable future."

More cash needed

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: "There is no doubt we need greater investment in public transport so that where feasible, drivers have an alternative to sitting in traffic and contributing to poor air quality and congestion.

"RAC research shows that six in 10 drivers would use their cars less if public transport was better, something only 11% of those surveyed disagreed with.

"The key to this must surely be making public transport as attractive as possible by ensuring it is reliable, frequent, convenient, comfortable and affordable.

"Making bus travel free to certain groups, and possibly to all, may prove to be the carrot that could change behaviour long term."

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