A new free bus travel scheme for young people under the age of 22 has hit the road.
And with passenger numbers set to rise demands are growing for better public transport links in the region.
Dumfries and Galloway Greens have spearheaded the ‘Haud the Bus’ drive for more frequent services.
And in Gatehouse activists cleaned up two bus shelters to highlight the issue.
The four volunteers emptied cigarette bins, scraped off old stickers, scrubbed perspex screens and swept up leaves and litter.
Spokesperson Laura Moodie, from Borgue, said: “When we first moved here a decade ago the bus service was great.
“We could get home safely from evenings out and trips away as well as getting to work or hospital appointments.
“The service has kept being cut and has never returned after Covid.
“It’s almost unusable now and whenever we complain we’re told we’re the only ones mentioning it.
“With free bus travel for under-22s starting, thanks to the Greens, it’s important young people here have a service they can use.”
Ms Moodie added: “We’ve spoken to people who have had to close businesses, missed crucial appointments or lost jobs and abandoned college courses because the bus service is so bad.
“Many of them are among the most vulnerable in our society and their needs should be prioritised, not ignored. Just because we live in a rural area doesn’t mean we should do without essential services.”
Liz Ashburn, who lives in Gatehouse, said: “The community here takes pride in their beautiful environment.
“But the shelters clearly haven’t been cleaned or maintained in years.
“Bus funding has been falling in Dumfries and Galloway and we know Swestrans don’t have the staff to do this.
“So we wanted to show that bus users are tired of being forgotten and deserve a better service.”
The Haud the Bus campaign focuses on the reinstatement of bus services, a return to public ownership and improved timetables.
All young people and children aged between 5-21 can now apply for a smart card to access the free travel scheme.
Applications for a national entitlement card can be made online via getyournec.scot or, if a child’s school uses it, on parentsportal.scot.
Alternatively, anyone can apply in person at their local council office.
Children under 5 years old do not need a card as they already travel for free on commercial bus services.
