Young people urged to take advantage of free bus travel scheme

Posted on 20 Sep 2022

With many students now returning for the new term at college and university this week, young people across North Ayrshire are being urged to take advantage of the national free bus travel scheme.

Introduced earlier this year, 5 to 21-year-olds living in Scotland became eligible to travel on buses without charge using a National Entitlement Card (NEC) or a Young Scot Card.

While many have already signed up, other young people have not done so and are potentially missing out on significant savings as well as helping to meet climate change targets.

To access free bus travel, children under 16 require parental consent and a new NEC or Young Scot card. Young people who are older than 16 can update their existing NEC or Young Scot Card using the Transport Scot Pass Collect app, available to download via the Apple Store or Google Play.

North Ayrshire Council's schools have offered to take care of the pupil application process automatically if parents and carers give their consent.

Schools have issued parental consent forms to all pupils under the age of 16, and we would strongly encourage any pupil who has not yet returned the form to do so as soon as possible and take advantage of this offer. Applying for free bus travel via a child's school skips the need for a parent to complete ID checks, which are required if applying online via https://getyournec.scot/

Since the schools have undertaken the process, the number of active cards allowing free bus travel in North Ayrshire has doubled from around 4,000 in early May to the current figure of around 8,000. As a result, North Ayrshire now has one of the highest uptake rates of eligible young people taking advantage of the Free Bus Travel scheme.

Young people who are not of school age but are eligible for the scheme will have to sign up online at https://freebus.scot/ or https://getyournec.scot/

North Ayrshire Council is happy to help anyone submitting an application - please email: [email protected] and we will support you in any way we can.

Council Leader Marie Burns said: "This is a ground-breaking scheme which is already making a positive difference to the lives of our young people.

"With the current Cost-of-Living Crisis affecting all of us, we don't want anyone to miss out on significant savings which can be made during their everyday travel, whether for education, work or leisure.

"The scheme will also play its part in helping Scotland as a nation to meet its climate change targets by encouraging greater use of sustainable travel.

"It's heartening to see the recent surge in uptake of the scheme but we know there are many more young people out there who will reap the benefits but haven't signed up yet. Please get in touch and let us help you."

The scheme is being delivered by the Scottish Government through its agency Transport Scotland and in partnership with the Improvement Service, National Entitlement Card Programme Office, Young Scot, local authorities and bus operators.

The free National Entitlement Card provides access to council services, concessionary travel, as well as Young Scot discounts and special offers. It can also be used as proof of age.

For more information or to apply for the scheme, please visit https://freebus.scot/ or https://getyournec.scot/

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