Latest news with #freebus
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Kids can now ride bus for free in and around Bristol
More than 150,000 children in the west of England can now catch a bus for free over the summer holidays. Anyone aged between five and 15 years old can travel without paying for tickets across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. The offer - which is funded by the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) and temporarily scraps the £1 ticket cost for the age group - will end on 5 September when pupils return to school. Weca mayor Helen Godwin said: "It's right that we help people save money and encourage greener travel." "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. "That's something I've heard loud and clear," she added. The free travel scheme will apply to most local services, though some, such as airport routes, will be exempt. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Children campaign for year-round free bus travel National Trust summer events: All you need to know Related internet links West of England Combined Authority
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Thousands of children to travel for free in the North East this summer
Tens of thousands of children in the North East will travel for free this summer, it has been announced. The return of the Kids Go Free scheme, launched by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, means children can enjoy free bus travel during the school holidays. The scheme will run from July 19 to August 31, 2025, and covers Tyne and Wear, County Durham, and Northumberland. Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, said: "Kids Go Free will see thousands of children across the North East travelling for free this summer. (Image: Mark Savage Photograpy) "From Berwick to Bishop Auckland and beyond, families can enjoy cheaper travel by bus and when using the Metro and Ferry too." Under the scheme, up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free with every fare-paying adult or concessionary pass holder. This makes getting around the region more affordable during the school holidays. Last month, Ms McGuinness announced the scheme will continue until at least September 2026, covering this summer, next summer, and all school holidays in between. Ms McGuinness said: "Since launching last year, Kids Go Free has already helped so many people travel affordably and enjoy their time together during the school holidays. "We're working to make travelling using public transport cheaper and easier and I'm delighted Kids Go Free has now been extended to run during school holidays until at least September 2026. "Affordable travel is great news for everyone, but I know that family budgets are increasingly stretched, so I'm pulling out all the stops to do everything we can to reduce the burden of high transport costs for local people. "Alongside Kids Go Free, we've also rolled out a bus fare cap, which means no single bus journey can be more than a maximum of £2.50 – that's at least 50p cheaper per journey than the national cap." READ MORE: Dad stages Darlington run in aid of suicide charity in memory of his son County Durham schoolgirl goes 'viral' after turning up to prom in HGV 'Exciting new era' for historic Darlington school as redevelopment plans unveiled Bus operators have also voiced their support for the scheme. In a joint statement, Stagecoach, Go North East, and Arriva said: "We're delighted to enable families to have more cost-effective days out by bus this summer, enjoying the attractions and places of interest across the region." To view full terms and conditions and upcoming dates for the offer, visit
Washington Post
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Wonder how free buses will fare in New York? Watch these Md. counties.
I read the June 29 Metro article 'Buses now free in Md. county,' about Montgomery County's free bus program, with interest. In neighboring Prince George's County, we eliminated fares on TheBus, our county's transit service, on June 30. While scrutinizing the county's budget in the spring, the county council found that the amount of money it cost to collect the fares was greater than the amount being taken in. Not only is eliminating bus fares a better deal for riders and a stronger encouragement to choose transit, but it also will save the county $4 million over the next several years.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- The Independent
Children to go free on buses in West of England during summer holiday
Children in the West of England will be able to travel on buses for free during the school summer holiday, the region's mayor has announced. The offer could benefit around 150,000 young people aged five to 15 in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority said. No bus pass or registration will be required to access the scheme, which is due to run from July 19 to September 5. Mayor of the West of England Helen Godwin, who announced the plans at Hengrove Play Park in south Bristol on Monday, said the initiative would 'help people save money and encourage greener travel', as well as 'inspire the next generation of bus passengers'. Ms Godwin, who was elected mayor last month, added: 'With free travel for 150,000 kids, local families will more easily have busloads of fun during the school holidays.' Pupils from Perry Court E-ACT Academy joined local council leaders at the announcement, alongside bus operators including First Bus, Stagecoach and Bath Bus Company. The initiative is subject to final approvals and would apply to all registered commercial and supported bus services, with limited exemptions such as airport routes. It will be funded through a share of the £13.5 million Bus Grant awarded to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority by the Department for Transport. Children under five already travel free on most services in the West of England, while fares for five to 15-year-olds are currently capped at £1 per journey.
