Free bus travel for children up to the age of 14: a measure introduced by the Region of Sardinia

Free public transport on buses for children up to the age of 14. The Region of Sardinia is extending the exemption, which until now had applied only to children up to the age of 6. The go-ahead for the new measure has been given by the regional government, which has approved the proposal put forward by the Regional Minister for Transport, Barbara Manca, with a twofold aim: on the one hand, to offer practical support to families; on the other, to encourage the use of public transport from a young age and to contribute to the spread of more sustainable mobility.

“Extending free travel to children up to the age of 14 means making a tangible difference to families’ daily lives and, at the same time, investing in the future of our transport system,” comments the councillor. “We want children and young people to become familiar with public transport from an early age and for these services to increasingly become a natural choice for their daily journeys.”

The measure concerns scheduled local public transport services by land and goes beyond the current regulations, which limit free travel to children under the age of 6 and set out specific conditions in the case of multiple accompanied children.

“Public transport is not just a matter of connections, but also a tool for social inclusion and support for families,” he adds. “Travelling to school, to play sport, to take part in cultural activities or simply to get around within one’s local area is an important part of the daily lives of children and young people.” Not only that: “Reducing the cost of these journeys means making opportunities more accessible and, at the same time, encouraging more sustainable travel behaviour.”

Extending free travel to under-14s is part of the regional programme aimed at reducing car use, whilst boosting the appeal and uptake of public transport.