'Targeted' free bus fares mooted by E&I president

A "targeted" free bus service could be piloted before the end of this States term, the Environment & Infrastructure president has told the BBC.

Deputy Adrian Gabriel said he would like to see "enhancements" to Stagecoach's services by 2029.

Proposals for a pilot of free bus travel were withdrawn after the bus operator raised "genuine concerns" about the impact increased demand would have.

Gabriel said he would not have supported the move because it was "universal rather than targeted".

"A more targeted response would have been perhaps better, maybe an incentive through ESS [Employment & Social Security] and income support," he said.

"Someone who's got a disposable income sitting on a bus next to someone on income support - one needs the free fare the other one doesn't."

Gabriel added, in time, should parking charges be implemented "one of the offsets for the funding for that mechanism could be diverted to free buses" to encourage drivers to use public transport.

Gabriel said any proposals for free bus fares would have to be a "joint discussion" between the committee and providers, but it was not "outside the realms of possibility."

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