Most of us were brought up with the uncontro-versial principle that if you abuse a privilege it’s likely to be removed.
Maybe there are under-lying reasons, but it’s only common sense that if a benefit is being repeatedly misused, or others inconvenienced, there should be consequences.
Free bus travel for under-22s has brought reports of youngsters travelling to neighbouring towns to cause trouble
So why has it taken the SNP so long to accept the privilege – and it is a privilege, not a right – of free bus travel for under 22s has seen intimidation of bus drivers soar and should be withdrawn from those responsible.
Anti-social behaviour on Lothian Buses has more than doubled since under 22s were granted free passes in 2022 and a year ago Edinburgh Council wrote to the Scottish Government to call for those guilty of repeat offences to lose their passes.
At long last, action is being taken and the SNP will introduce the required legislation in the Scottish Parliament on December 4, but so desperate is the Scottish Government not to be seen to be demonising young people that the power to remove concessionary travel will also apply to the over 60s.
It’s hard to argue against the principle of consistency, but when did Lothian Buses’ chief executive Sarah Boyd ever feel the need to give evidence to Holyrood about the dreadful behaviour of pensioners on her services, as she did in earlier this year when she raised the unacceptable rise of youths’ anti-social behaviour?
In truth, the SNP minister for connectivity Jim Fairlie has been dragged kicking and screaming to make this decision, for reasons which are very hard to fathom, especially as there is usually no question that people performing public services are entitled to the full protection of the law.
It’s too easy to forget that “free” travel is only free to the user at the time of the trip, but like all the SNP’s giveaways must be funded by taxpayers. And while there is an argument that young people should not miss out on opportunities because they cannot meet travel costs, I don’t think that should extend to their social lives, so I still favour a curfew after which a fare should be paid.
Nor do I see why taxpayers should be expected to cover the cost of kids jumping on a bus for a couple of stops to take them from school to Greggs or a chip shop for their lunch, as is happening. It’s hardly in line with policies to encourage healthy living, but it was inevitable.
But it’s the proposal of extending free travel to under 25s, favoured by the Greens, which needs to be nipped in the bud. Also backed in the recent Edinburgh Poverty Commission report, it is unaffordable and simply unacceptable to expect the shrinking number of working people to cover the cost of yet another giveaway for people who are not demanding it.
It would result in people approaching their 30s never having paid for bus travel and it will, therefore, not be valued but regarded as an entitlement. Before long there would be calls for all under 30s to ride for nothing and no doubt calls for public transport to be free altogether.
By contrast, the over 60s have spent their entire lives paying for travel and so appreciate the benefit. Maybe that’s one reason there are no Hell’s Grannies on the buses.
