THE summer holidays can prove an expensive time for families. But thanks to a one-of-a-kind scheme by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), kids from Bishopston and Redland can travel for free on buses across the region.
Around 150,000 children and young people aged five to 15 — across Bristol and surrounding areas — can benefit from free bus travel this summer, just by simply hopping on board. No bus pass or registration is required.
The scheme — which is the first of its kind in England — was announced by newly elected WECA Labour mayor, Helen Godwin at Hengrove Play Park in south Bristol on Monday, June 9.
Bath Bus Company, First Bus, Stagecoach, and the Big Lemon were also part of the landmark announcement, which featured one of the hundreds of new zero-emission electric buses that will transform passengers’ journeys over coming months and years.
Care leavers aged 25 and under are already benefitting from free year-round bus travel.
It also follows news that the West of England is set to receive a record £752 million of transport funding for better buses, more trains, and mass transit.
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, said: “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.”
The package is set to be funded using some of the £13.5 million of funding secured from the Department for Transport by WECA.
The free travel offer runs from the start of the summer holidays, July 19 until September 5 to cover varying inset days.
For more information, visit: www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk
Image: Anna Barclay