Bristol: Children aged 5 to 15 will be able to enjoy free bus travel across the West of England during the upcoming school summer holidays, in a groundbreaking move benefiting approximately 150,000 young people.
The initiative applies across the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) – which includes Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire, as well as North Somerset, and marks the first scheme of its kind in England outside London.
The free travel offer will not require bus passes or prior registration and will run from 19 July to 5 September, coinciding with the school holiday period. The goal is twofold: to ease cost-of-living pressures on families and encourage greater public transport use, particularly among the younger generation.
Helen Godwin, the newly elected Labour Mayor of the West of England, introduced the scheme at a play park in South Bristol, and stated that, “It’s right that we help people save money and encourage greener travel, and this scheme will 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 of a new chapter for the West of England,” Godwin added.
The launch event featured the participation of local schoolchildren from Perry Court E-Act Academy in Hengrove, Bristol. Head girl Raya expressed excitement, saying the scheme would help her meet up with friends and shop for secondary school supplies.
Public transport providers Bath Bus Company, First Bus, and Stagecoach also participated in the launch, which showcased one of the new zero-emission electric buses set to be deployed in the region over the coming months and years.
The free travel scheme will be funded through £13.5 million in bus grant funding secured by WECA from the Department for Transport (DfT). This is distinct from the £752 million recently allocated to the West of England for broader transport upgrades, including enhanced bus and rail services and exploration of mass transit options.
While some critics argue that the West of England received less funding than regions like the smaller Tees Valley, local leaders view the free bus travel scheme as a major stride toward affordability, accessibility, and environmental responsibility in regional transport policy.
Additionally, North Somerset, which is in the process of joining the combined authority, will also implement the free travel initiative this summer.
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