Bus fares in western Scotland have been officially capped at £2 per journey, starting from Monday. This applies to several regions, including Glasgow, Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Dunbartonshire. The Scottish government introduced the price freeze to make public transport more affordable for local communities, particularly during the ongoing cost of living crisis. This initiative follows a successful pilot program in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, where £2 tickets were introduced in March. First Minister John Swinney highlighted the importance of reducing transportation costs for residents, noting that the fare cap would help people save money. The Strathclyde region, which covers a large portion of Scotland's population, will be the first to implement the £2 Bus Fare Cap. The Scottish government is also considering legislation that could extend the fare cap to the entire country, though a specific timeline for this has not yet been set. Under the new policy, passengers traveling entirely within the fare cap area will pay no more than £2 for a single journey. However, if a passenger changes buses—regardless of whether they are operated by the same company—a separate fare will apply for each change. Andy Cullen, regional director of First Bus in Scotland, said the company is committed to working with the government to ensure the success of the fare cap. In England, similar measures are being introduced. Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, announced that most bus fares will be capped at £2 from January as part of broader efforts to address the cost of living. The UK government has also announced plans to reduce the price of a single bus ticket by a third from January 2025 until the end of 2027. Currently, the nationwide cap on single bus fares in England is set at £3 until the end of March 2027, although some areas like London and Greater Manchester already have lower maximum fares.