Councillors to debate free bus tickets 

A bus on the South Mainland service. 

Councillors will vote next week on a two-year trial program for all-round free bus travel across the Isles.

If successful, the plan would make Shetland the first place in the UK with free bus rides for locals.

The motion, proposed by Shetland South councillors Alex Armitage and Robbie McGregor, will go before their colleagues in a vote at the full council meeting on Wednesday.

Mr McGregor said free transport “would grease the wheels of Shetland’s economy.”

Free buses would be a “win-win-win for people, planet and the Shetland economy” said Dr Armitage, noting the Scottish government’s aim to reduce car travel a fifth by the end of the decade.

“We have more private cars on the road than ever. It’s just not sustainable,” he said. “We need bold, innovative policies like fare-free public transport to provide real incentives for folk to get on the bus.”

Dr Armitage and Mr McGregor first proposed free bus and ferry travel for islanders two years ago, but the idea was narrowly rejected over the question of funding.

This time, Dr Armitage said there are “cost-neutral” options for the SIC, drawing on a possible new tourist levy, government funds announced in the new budget, or the isles’ community benefit fund.

“We were knocked back when we tried this two years ago,” Dr Armitage told The Shetland Times, “but I’ve been working quite hard to get it this time.”

If passed, next week’s motion will ask councillors to look for funding before voting on a roll-out plan in the new year.