Law banning unruly passengers using free bus passes in Scotland to be introduced
Minister underlines that antisocial behaviour on buses is “simply not acceptable”
A new law to ban unruly passengers using their free bus passes is to be unveiled next month, the Scottish Government has announced.
Legislation will be introduced at the Scottish Parliament on December 4, Connectivity Minister Jim Fairlie told MSPs on Wednesday.
The move follows concern from opposition parties at antisocial behaviour among bus passengers, which Mr Fairlie agreed was “simply not acceptable”.
The Scotsman reported in August that incidents on Lothian, Edinburgh’s main bus operator, increased by ten to 1,150 in the first half of this year, with at least half attributed to “youths”.
They peaked at the equivalent of nine a day in April, which coincided with the Easter school holidays. The 2025 figures were also more than one third higher than before free bus travel for under-22s was introduced in 2022.
The Scottish Conservatives, which obtained the figures from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, said the situation was “out of control”. Most other bus operators are privately owned and not subject to FOI.
Speaking in a bus debate led by the Scottish Greens, Mr Fairlie said: “The vast majority of passengers who travel by bus travel safely and responsibly, including people of all ages using their free bus entitlement to travel.
“However, there is a minority of people, of all ages, who act in a way which can result in harm to bus employees and passengers, and that is simply not acceptable.
“Antisocial behaviour on the bus network is something we are determined to address.
“The Programme for Government prioritised the consideration of suspending the use of concessionary travel cards on a temporary and potentially permanent basis as a result of antisocial behaviour when using the card.
“Detailed work is progressing on our behaviour code, robust impact assessments and a process for suspension, with enabling secondary legislation due to be laid in Parliament on December 4.
“It’s simply not acceptable or drivers or passengers to have to put up with antisocial behaviour, and this should send a clear message to the small minority that action will be taken and they will lose that privilege.”
Scottish Conservatives transport spokesperson Sue Webber welcomed the move. She told MSPs: “There is a growing problem of antisocial behaviour on buses, and drivers, passengers and young people themselves deserve to feel safe.
“I very much look forward to that legislation, because there must be consequences for those who engage in persistent abusive behaviour towards bus drivers and passengers.”
Claire Baker, her Scottish Labour counterpart, said the party had called for the measure nearly a year ago, “which would be part of ensuring that buses are safe places for drivers and passengers”.
Her West Scotland colleague Neil Bibby said: “A very small minority of them have used buses as gang huts and have displayed antisocial behaviour towards bus drivers and other passengers”.
South of Scotland Conservative MSP Brian Whittle said: “Far too often in recent years, I have dealt with reports of antisocial behaviour by young people that is deterring other bus users from travelling.
“In Kilmarnock, antisocial behaviour in the bus station by young people, many of whom travel from outside the town, has been such an issue that it has required on-going interventions by Police Scotland and East Ayrshire Council.
“Time and again, I hear from constituents who feel unsafe using the bus station and avoid it after dark. That is not easy for anyone who commutes to and from work in the winter months.”
However, Glasgow Green MSP Patrick Harvie expressed doubts. He said: “Simply removing the free bus pass would not tackle antisocial behaviour.
“If somebody’s behaviour is the problem, simply saying they should pay for their own ticket is not a solution, while simply saying they should not be on the bus means that the behaviour will take place somewhere else. I would like us to think principally about the behaviour, rather than the bus pass.”