As an increase to the concessionary bus fare is announced the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) is calling on the government to fund a maximum standard concessionary fare of 50p across the UK for children and young people in full-time education.

In order to balance budgets, GMPTA is increasing Greater Manchester’s concessionary fare by 10p in April – from 70p to 80p – the first rise in two years. During this time bus operators in Greater Manchester have increased their fares by an average of 16 per cent. It is estimated that the 20p rise in 2007 led to a reduction in travel by young people of 4.6 million (12%) from the 37 million concessionary trips made in 2006/07 - evidence which suggests that the new increase could result in approximately 1 million less trips being made.

Chair of GMPTA, Councillor Matt Colledge, said:

“We’re calling on the government to fund a maximum flat fare of 50p for young people.

Currently it is up to each individual passenger transport authority or local council to decide if they want to fund cheaper travel for certain groups. If they do, they must then decide how low they can afford to keep concessionary fares – bearing in mind that they have to cover this cost to operators from taxpayers’ money.

In Greater Manchester we want to keep the concessionary fare as low as possible. We haven’t raised the fare for two years and I am loathe to see an increase now but our hands are tied.

The cost of reimbursing the bus operators to provide essential bus services continues to go up and up. Our only other option is to cut these bus services, which frankly is not acceptable.”

A 10p increase in the concessionary fare would largely affect under-16s and 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education. Research carried out by Transport Resource Unit last year found that 75% of parents with children under 16 said cost was a barrier to them using public transport.