| Re: Children to get free bus travel in Bristol, 2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:48, 23rd March 2026 |     |
An update, from the BBC:
West of England children's bus tickets capped at £1 until 2029
Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England (centre) said passengers deserved an "affordable, reliable and accessible" transport network
A £1 cap on child bus tickets has been extended until spring 2029.
The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) announced the three-year extension of the initiative as part of a wider fares support package for bus passengers.
The multi-operator fare cap, free bus travel for care leavers up to the age of 25, the Youth Guarantee free bus pass and the Diamond Pass to allow pensioners and disabled passengers to travel for free will also be extended following funding from the Department of Transport.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: "We're determined to support the delivery of affordable, reliable and accessible transport networks that passengers deserve."
According to Weca, the £1 child fare cap - which was introduced in September 2022 for anyone aged between five and 15 years old across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset - has already saved families across the region about £1.1m in the last year.
The authority has also allowed children to travel for free during the summer and Christmas half term holidays since June 2025.
Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said he was "pleased" to see the extension of several money-saving schemes which would encourage more people to travel by bus. "We will continue working with the Mayoral Combined Authority, bus operators and neighbouring councils to deliver reliable and affordable services," he added.
North Somerset councillor Hugh Malyan said: "Extension of these schemes will mean increased access to services for many, and at the same time support wider ambitions for a cleaner, more sustainable and inclusive transport network for the future."
Over the coming weeks, Weca is set to consult residents on its developing Bus Plan to enable the community to work together to build a more reliable bus network, which was earmarked as a priority for the region.
Elsewhere, the authority's Transport Vision plan which was announced last month also aims to transform public transport services across the region, with proposals to implement an extended rail network, a mass transit system, safer active travel and improved streets.
Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England (centre) said passengers deserved an "affordable, reliable and accessible" transport network
A £1 cap on child bus tickets has been extended until spring 2029.
The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) announced the three-year extension of the initiative as part of a wider fares support package for bus passengers.
The multi-operator fare cap, free bus travel for care leavers up to the age of 25, the Youth Guarantee free bus pass and the Diamond Pass to allow pensioners and disabled passengers to travel for free will also be extended following funding from the Department of Transport.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: "We're determined to support the delivery of affordable, reliable and accessible transport networks that passengers deserve."
According to Weca, the £1 child fare cap - which was introduced in September 2022 for anyone aged between five and 15 years old across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset - has already saved families across the region about £1.1m in the last year.
The authority has also allowed children to travel for free during the summer and Christmas half term holidays since June 2025.
Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said he was "pleased" to see the extension of several money-saving schemes which would encourage more people to travel by bus. "We will continue working with the Mayoral Combined Authority, bus operators and neighbouring councils to deliver reliable and affordable services," he added.
North Somerset councillor Hugh Malyan said: "Extension of these schemes will mean increased access to services for many, and at the same time support wider ambitions for a cleaner, more sustainable and inclusive transport network for the future."
Over the coming weeks, Weca is set to consult residents on its developing Bus Plan to enable the community to work together to build a more reliable bus network, which was earmarked as a priority for the region.
Elsewhere, the authority's Transport Vision plan which was announced last month also aims to transform public transport services across the region, with proposals to implement an extended rail network, a mass transit system, safer active travel and improved streets.
| Re: Children to get free bus travel in Bristol, 2025 Posted by infoman at 05:37, 7th December 2025 | |
I think its the same when you see teaching staff escorting the young ones to or from a location.
The little ones are all wearing hi-vis jackets and the teachers don't wear them.
If an employer supplies safety equipment are you not bound to wear it?
| Re: Children to get free bus travel in Bristol, 2025 Posted by ChrisB at 18:04, 6th December 2025 | |
Huh? Why wear flouro jackets on the bus but not when running across an open vehicle park?
| Re: Children to get free bus travel in Bristol, 2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:41, 3rd December 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Children in and around Bristol can ride buses for free this Christmas
Children will be able to use buses for free again after a successful summer scheme saw more than 900,000 young people take part.
A successful summer holiday project led to thousands of free journeys being taken every week in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset.
Kids Go Free will start up again over the Christmas holidays for children under 16 from 20 December to 4 January 2026.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: " With more and more new green electric buses coming, we will keep working together to build the bus network that local people need and deserve. "
Children will be able to use buses for free again after a successful summer scheme saw more than 900,000 young people take part.
A successful summer holiday project led to thousands of free journeys being taken every week in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset.
Kids Go Free will start up again over the Christmas holidays for children under 16 from 20 December to 4 January 2026.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: " With more and more new green electric buses coming, we will keep working together to build the bus network that local people need and deserve. "
| Re: Children to get free bus travel in Bristol, 2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:42, 10th June 2025 | |
There were: I've now merged them, here.
| Re: Children to get free bus travel in Bristol, 2025 Posted by ChrisB at 11:15, 10th June 2025 | |
There are two threads running on this
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=30341.new#new
| Re: Children to get free bus travel in Bristol, 2025 Posted by Noggin at 10:43, 10th June 2025 | |
Press release at https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/news/kids-go-free-on-the-wests-buses/
"The school holidays are due to start on 19 July. The proposed free travel offer would run from then until 5 September (to cover varying INSET days) across the West of England and North Somerset during the same period on all registered commercial and supported bus services starting in those areas, with limited exemptions to be set out in due course on the Travelwest website – e.g. for airport services."
"The proposed package is set to be funded using some of the £13.5 million of Bus Grant funding secured from the Department for Transport by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority."
| Re: Children to get free bus travel in Bristol, 2025 Posted by infoman at 07:11, 10th June 2025 | |
announced by WECA on the local news for the area controlled by WECA.
There are 150,000 children in the WECA area.
Not sure if their are time restrictions on the offer
| Children to get free bus travel in Bristol, 2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 06:50, 10th June 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Children under the age of 16 are to be offered free bus travel across the summer.
It is expected to benefit up to 150,000 children living in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset.
The offer, backed by the West of England Combined Authority and funded through a £13.5m government transport grant, will run from 19 July to 5 September. Bus travel for children aged from five to 15 is currently capped at £1 per journey.
The new regional mayor, Labour's Helen Godwin, said she wanted families to have "something to look forward to" in the summer. The move was backed by Bristol's Green council.
Mrs Godwin launched the initiative at a play park in Hengrove, describing it as a much-needed boost for families facing mounting living costs. "We really want all families across the West of England to have something to look forward to this summer," she said. "Hopefully this will feel like a bit of a help."
The mother of three highlighted the burden transport costs place on families. "If my husband and three kids wanted to go and do something, you're talking about over £15 for us to go out. It's quite a lot of money."
The initiative is designed to help children visit friends, explore local attractions, and access free summer events.
Kate Marsh, the head teacher of Perry Court E-ACT Academy, said the offer would be "fantastic" for families who rely on buses. "It opens up a lot more options to them - visiting parks, family, museums and seeing friends… This will help with mental wellbeing as well as a benefit for their education."
The scheme, which still requires final approval, builds on a wider push to boost public transport use. It follows a recent birthday-month free bus pass scheme for all West of England residents.
Bristol City Council leader and Green Party councillor Tony Dyer said the plan would reduce barriers for young people seeking out opportunities. "We fully support this initiative… With so many events and activities happening across Bristol this summer, this will help make accessing them much easier."
The free travel scheme will apply to most local services, though some, such as airport routes, will be exempt.
It is expected to benefit up to 150,000 children living in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset.
The offer, backed by the West of England Combined Authority and funded through a £13.5m government transport grant, will run from 19 July to 5 September. Bus travel for children aged from five to 15 is currently capped at £1 per journey.
The new regional mayor, Labour's Helen Godwin, said she wanted families to have "something to look forward to" in the summer. The move was backed by Bristol's Green council.
Mrs Godwin launched the initiative at a play park in Hengrove, describing it as a much-needed boost for families facing mounting living costs. "We really want all families across the West of England to have something to look forward to this summer," she said. "Hopefully this will feel like a bit of a help."
The mother of three highlighted the burden transport costs place on families. "If my husband and three kids wanted to go and do something, you're talking about over £15 for us to go out. It's quite a lot of money."
The initiative is designed to help children visit friends, explore local attractions, and access free summer events.
Kate Marsh, the head teacher of Perry Court E-ACT Academy, said the offer would be "fantastic" for families who rely on buses. "It opens up a lot more options to them - visiting parks, family, museums and seeing friends… This will help with mental wellbeing as well as a benefit for their education."
The scheme, which still requires final approval, builds on a wider push to boost public transport use. It follows a recent birthday-month free bus pass scheme for all West of England residents.
Bristol City Council leader and Green Party councillor Tony Dyer said the plan would reduce barriers for young people seeking out opportunities. "We fully support this initiative… With so many events and activities happening across Bristol this summer, this will help make accessing them much easier."
The free travel scheme will apply to most local services, though some, such as airport routes, will be exempt.
