BUS FARE offers to further embed sustainable travel choices for people and to support families are set to continue.

A consensus was reached on the child fare cap, free travel for care leavers until they turn 25, and Kids Go Free at the January 30 meeting of the West of England Combined Authority.

These proposals follow the success of the return of Kids Go Free over the Christmas school holidays, which saw children’s journeys increase by more than 50 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year.

During the summer, when Kids Go Free was first introduced, children’s journeys increased by a third more compared to the previous year.

A £42.4 million three-year Bus Grant announced late last year by the Department for Transport for the next three years beginning in April is set to include £28.2-million for bus services, £9.9-million for fares and ticketing initiative and £1-million for passenger experience, including real time information and safety initiatives, particularly for women and girls.

By the end of this month, £1-million of improvements from a previous funding allocation will see the remainder of some 250 new information screens installed at bus stops, bus stations, hospitals, and other places in the West to help continue building a network that local people can rely on.

The first 129 new green buses are already on our region’s roads, with another 160 on their way this year alongside infrastructure improvements to continue to electrify the bus fleet at First Bus depots in Bath, Lawrence Hill, and Hengrove.

Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, said: “Together, we are making real progress towards a bus network that works and which people can rely on. New buses, new services, and new information screens are just the start.

“Kids Go Free has already seen 1.1-million free bus journeys for under-16s over the summer and Christmas school holidays, with many people noticing more of a difference from our regional authority during those nine weeks than the last nine years.

“As we continue building momentum for our region, we will share our Transport Vision. This will set out our direction of travel, with £752-million already secured from government to invest in getting the West moving.”

Cllr Kevin Guy, deputy mayor and leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “Electrifying our bus fleet is a vital step in tackling the climate emergency and improving everyday travel in Bath & North East Somerset. Incentives like Kids Go Free are helping families choose sustainable travel and explore the region.

“We’ll keep working with the Mayor and our partners, and I encourage everyone to take part in the upcoming Bus Plan consultation so we can shape a network that truly serves our communities.”

The Bus Plan is being developed for public consultation out next month, for local people to feed into how together the regional authority, councils, and bus operators can build a network that works across the West.