Glasgow Free Transport Pilot Scheme to Select 1000 Participants

Glasgow residents could get free transport. This will be Scotland’s first trial of its kind. Councillors approved £225,000 for this project and plan to offer free travel to 1,000 people. This initiative is part of the upcoming year’s budget.

A study explored how this could work, suggesting the use of a smart card for buses, trains, and subways. The pilot program may last nine weeks and the study recommended including people aged 22 to 59. The council hasn’t revealed all details yet regarding the program.

The study estimated costs for wider access to free transport. It found that giving everyone aged 22-59 free transport could cost about £95.7 million for only nine weeks. This figure excludes admin and back office costs.

The council says this test run is a first, allowing one thousand adults to use free transport. This helps explore social, environmental, and economic benefits to determine if free transport can expand in the future.

Stantec Limited conducted the study for the council. The pilot aims to capture both benefits and costs. They will then assess the gathered information to help future decisions about citywide implementation.

The council has a 2030 goal to achieve a 30% cut in vehicle use. They also aim to reach net zero by 2030. Encouraging more people to use public transport for daily commuting would greatly help, along with walking and cycling.