FRIENDS of the Earth West Midlands are calling for free bus travel, initially for the under 30s and then for everyone.
It comes as new figures are expected to show Department for Transport failing on climate change.
The pressure group says transport, mostly passenger cars, are a significant of greenhouse gases, making up more than a third of total emissions.
“It’s an idea whose time has well and truly arrived. Free bus travel for the under 30s at first, before widening the scheme, would make for more liveable cities and cut damaging greenhouse gas emissions,” said spokesman Chris Crean.
“Dozens of cities across the world offer some form of free public transport.
“It would cost around £3 billion a year but this is a fraction of the money spent on roads.
“Three times more journeys are by bus than train and they are the main means of transport for the car-less quarter of the population.
“What we are seeing instead is bus fares rising 75 per cent over the last 15 years, and over 3,300 services reduced or removed since 2010 in England and Wales.”
