When Public Transport Is a Luxury

A field guide to fare hikes, access gaps, and the quiet cost of exclusion

Remember the Promise?

Buses and trains were supposed to be the great equalisers.
Affordable. Reliable. Connecting people to work, school, and life.

Now?
Commuting in 2026 feels like auditioning for Survivor: Urban Edition.
And the stakes aren’t just lateness, they’re opportunity, independence, and connection.

Every fare increase feels like a judgment:

• “Sure, you want to go to work? That’ll be £5 more than last week.”
• “Visiting family? Sorry, that’s now a luxury.”
• “Social life? Only if your budget allows.”

Public transport isn’t neutral anymore.
It’s a marker of privilege.

Money isn’t the only barrier:

• Routes are being cut
• Schedules reduced
• Rural areas left in limbo

If you live outside a city, the bus isn’t a lifeline; it’s a lottery.

• Urban centres get service
• Outskirts get neglected
• Accessibility quietly excludes disabled riders, the elderly, and anyone relying on mobility support

Transport isn’t just about movement.
It’s about participation.

Even amidst delays and crowded carriages, public transport carries stories:

• The student is cramming notes on a shaky seat
• The parent juggling kids and groceries
• Strangers sharing quiet nods during the morning commute

It’s more than steel and schedules.
It’s the fragile web that keeps communities connected.

When it falters, the human cost isn’t immediately visible.
It shows up in missed jobs, fractured social ties, and quiet frustration.

Governments love to talk about “streamlining” and “optimisation.”
But efficiency isn’t the same as accessibility.

• A faster timetable doesn’t help if you can’t afford the fare
• A new route map doesn’t matter if the bus stops running after 6pm
• Tech upgrades are pointless if people still can’t get where they need to go

Efficiency looks great on paper.
Life on the street tells a different story.

Imagine a transport system designed not just to move people but to include them:

• Affordable fares that don’t penalise low-income riders
• Routes that connect every community, not just profitable ones
• Schedules that match real lives, not just office hours

Public transport could be a lifeline again.
A shared space that empowers, not a commodity to be rationed.

Next time you’re delayed, crammed, or staring at a fare increase:

• Ask: “Who does this system actually serve?”
• Think: “What would a genuinely inclusive transport system look like?”
• Notice: “How is access shaping opportunity, connection, and daily life?”

Because transport isn’t just movement.
It’s freedom, equity, and participation.

And when it feels like a luxury,
We’re not just paying for a ticket
We’re paying for the cost of exclusion.

Explore more with us:

• Browse Spiralmore collections
• Read our Informal Blog for relaxed insights
• Discover Deconvolution and see what’s happening
• Visit Gwenin for a curated selection of frameworks