News / Transport
Children to travel for free on buses across Bristol area this summer
Children under the age of 16 will be able to travel for free on buses across the Bristol region during the summer holidays.
There is no registration or bus pass required, with metro mayor Helen Godwin saying that “together, we are building the kind of bus service that local people deserve”.
At the launch of the new initiative, Godwin said: “Our £1 child fare is already one of the cheapest tickets in the whole country but, ideally, children and young people should be able to travel by bus for free.
is needed now More than ever
“It’s right that we help people save money and encourage greener travel, and this scheme would do just that. With free travel for 150,000 kids, local families will more easily have busloads of fun during the school holidays.
“This is just the start for a new chapter for the West of England. As well as helping people have a great time over the summer, our first steps on transport should help inspire the next generation of bus passengers.”
West of England mayor Helen announced plans to offer free bus travel to children alongside pupils from Perry Court E-ACT Academy – photo: Cerys Larsen
The free travel offer is set to run from run from July 19 until 5 September 5 on most buses, with services to Bristol Airport – the most expensive tickets in the region – expected to be among the exceptions.
It will be paid for by Bus Grant funding secured from the Department for Transport by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
In London, children already get free travel on buses and trams; while in Manchester, under-16s who travel more than three miles to school by bus can get a free pass.
The West of England Combined Authority is set to receive £752 million to fund the improvement of public transport across the region – photo: Cerys Larsen
Speaking at the launch of the scheme in Hengrove, Godwin told Bristol 24/7 that “summer holidays can feel quite daunting”.
The initiative is about “supporting families and letting them know that we see them, we hear them, and we know that things are tough,” Godwin said.
“We’d be really thrilled if we can get more families using the bus as a result.
“The more people that use the bus, the better the services will be.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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