Free local off-peak concessionary bus travel was introduced in Scotland on 30 September 2002 for women aged 60 and over and for men aged 65 and over. On 1 April 2003 the entitlement to free travel was extended to men aged 60 – 64. In 2001 the Scottish Executive appointed Colin Buchanan and Partners to monitor issues relating to the impact of the introduction of free concessionary travel. This monitoring was undertaken as a before and after study involving a number of survey instruments to collect a range of quantitative and qualitative information regarding concessionary trip making. The key objectives of the study were to: • quantify the occurrence, frequency and purpose of concessionary trips; • identify the proportion of concessionary passengers related to bus and train capacity; • identify travel alternatives which would be made were the concession not available; • identify general attitudes towards concessionary travel; • quantify additional trips that are directly attributable to the introduction of the free fare in both the peak and off peak; • model the likely effects of demographic, car ownership and other lifestyle indicators upon future trends of concessionary travel. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting