NORTH Somerset residents can enjoy a free month of bus travel thanks to the return of a popular scheme.
The Birthday Bus scheme, which relaunched today (October 28), allows people in North Somerset the opportunity to have unlimited, free bus travel throughout the month of their birthday from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2025.
All the main bus companies, including First, Stagecoach, and the Big Lemon, plus the WESTlink bookable buses, are part of this year’s scheme.
To ride for free, passengers need to apply for their Birthday Bus pass ahead of their birthday month, with the first group of eligible passengers set to enjoy free rides starting December 1.
New to this year’s offer, under 21s can receive two months of bus travel free – their birthday month and the month after.
Since the Birthday Bus scheme launched last August, more than 72,000 people applied for a birthday bus pass, resulting in over a million (1,168,139) journeys, with nearly 6,800 trips recorded on the busiest day
“Feedback from last year showed that 73% of participants made trips they wouldn’t have otherwise taken, demonstrating the scheme’s potential to shake up and inspire new travel routines,” a North Somerset Council spokesperson said.
“Starting today, residents can once again take advantage and register for free bus travel during their birthday month. This means unlimited trips on any day, at any time.”
The Birthday Bus scheme is a joint effort between North Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority, as part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funded by the Department for Transport.
Councillor Hannah Young, executive member for highways and transport at North Somerset Council, said: “We’re delighted to see Birthday Bus back for a second year.
“The scheme is a fantastic way to encourage residents to explore our bus network and discover the convenience of public transport.
“We’ve seen incredible results in the first year, with over a million journeys made and so many people trying out new routes they might not have considered before.
“It’s a great initiative that helps you to save money and will help to reduce traffic.
“The X1 service carries over 3,000 people each day on 110 buses – carrying around a quarter of all journeys along the Long Ashton Bypass, though buses represent just one per cent of the traffic!”
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