Bristol City Council has condemned the UK Government’s decision to increase the cap on single bus fares from £2 to £3 starting in 2025.
In a meeting this week, council members voiced their concerns over the impact this hike could have on public transport in Bristol. The increase was announced as part of the Chancellor’s budget on October 30th, a move which the council believes undermines the government’s commitment to encouraging greener transport choices.
Councilor Ed Fraser, who proposed the motion, stated that this rise would disproportionately affect lower-income commuters and could lead to a reduction in bus services. He added that raising the fare while continuing a freeze on fuel duties sends the wrong message, particularly at a time when affordable public transport is more important than ever.
Ed Fraser also shared his concerns on social media, posting on X about the motion
🚌 I’ve put in a motion to @BristolCouncil next week to call on the chancellor to freeze the bus fare cap at £2.
— Ed Fraser (@egwfraser) November 8, 2024
If the chancellor refuses to do this, I’m calling on the WECA mayor to look at reallocating BSIL to help keep the cap for longer in Bristol.https://t.co/IzF49frATR
In an interview with Ed Plowden, Plowden elaborated further on his stance:
“At a time when we desperately need to decarbonise the transport system and look at different ways people travel and get them out of their single occupancy cars, we feel pushing in through a potential 50% rise in the price of a bus journey, but not putting anything on to motorists really sends out the wrong message”
The council argued that bus fares in the UK have already increased at a higher rate than motoring costs or rail fares, and the proposed rise would exacerbate this issue. According to the council, the decision risks losing key bus routes and undermining the broader efforts to promote sustainable transport options.
The motion also calls for the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and North Somerset Council to explore options for reallocating the unspent £106 million from the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) to maintain the £2 fare cap. The council is urging the Chancellor to reconsider the decision and maintain the current fare cap throughout this parliament.
Public transport advocates argue that keeping the cap at £2 is a critical step toward encouraging more people to use buses and reduce traffic congestion.
