Entitlement to concessionary public transport and wellbeing: A qualitative study of young people and older citizens in London, UK

Abstract

Access to transport is an important determinant of health, and concessionary fares for public transport are one way to reduce the 'transport exclusion' that can limit access. This paper draws on qualitative data from two groups typically at risk of transport exclusion: young people (12-18 years of age, n=118) and older citizens (60+ years of age, n=46). The data were collected in London, UK, where young people and older citizens are currently entitled to concessionary bus travel. We focus on how this entitlement is understood and enacted, and how different sources of entitlement mediate the relationship between transport and wellbeing. Both groups felt that their formal entitlement to travel for free reflected their social worth and was, particularly for older citizens, relatively unproblematic. The provision of a concessionary transport entitlement also helped to combat feelings of social exclusion by enhancing recipients' sense of belonging to the city and to a 'community'. However, informal entitlements to particular spaces on the bus reflected less valued social attributes such as need or frailty. Thus in the course of travelling by bus the enactment of entitlements to space and seats entailed the negotiation of social differences and personal vulnerabilities, and this carried with it potential threats to wellbeing. We conclude that the process, as well as the substance, of entitlement can mediate wellbeing; and that where the basis for providing a given entitlement is widely understood and accepted, the risks to wellbeing associated with enacting that entitlement will be reduced. Key words UK; Entitlement; Public transport; Young people; Older citizens; Belonging; Social exclusion; Wellbeing Research Highlights Young people (12-18 year-olds) and older people (over-60s) receive free bus travel in London, UK.

Viewpoints of adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders on public transport

“…Access to transport is also an important determinant of health (Fristedt, Dahl, Wretstrand, Björklund, & Falkmer, 2014) as it provides access to health services, the goods necessary for health, as well as the work and education determinants of health and participation in activities that support healthy life (Jones, Goodman, Roberts, Steinbach, & Green, 2013).…”

“…Although variation in access to transport, and thus services, is a key contributor to health inequalities (Macintyre, Macdonald, & Ellaway, 2008), the intrinsic associations between transport and health are far from receiving necessary policy attention (Jones et al, 2013).…”

Investigating the link between carbon dioxide emissions and transport-related social exclusion in rural Northern Ireland

“…Consequently, this study has advocated that ''accessibility planning can and should be recognised as key to localism'' in the recent changing policy context of accessibility planning (p. 34). Other policy initiatives with a significant impact in reducing transport-related social exclusion are the concessionary fare schemes for younger and older age people (Jones et al 2013). …”

On the buses: a mixed-method evaluation of the impact of free bus travel for young people on the public health

“…This was based on a perceived 'unfairness': the Freedom Pass benefit was associated with a 'reward' for working hard all their lives, something young people had not yet done. 123 There was also a sense of temporal unfairness, with older citizens noting that they had not benefited from free travel when they were young themselves, or when their children were young. Some also expressed a dislike of young people 'abusing' the privilege, by jumping on and off the bus needlessly:…”