Live in Bristol or the surrounding area? You’re in for a treat. Starting this July, residents will be able to hop on a bus for free (yes, really) during the full month of their birthday. It’s part of a new £8 million plan aiming to encourage more people to use public transport in the city – and honestly, the initiative sounds kind of sick.
Here’s the deal: anyone living in Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire or north-east Somerset can apply for the Birthday Bus Pass, on condition of showing proof of residency. All of the major bus operators in the area, including First and Stagecoach, are on board with the scheme, which is set to kick off on July 1 and will continue running until June 30, 2024 (and could be extended, if it’s a success).
As the first of its kind in the UK, the plan was announced by the West of England Combined Authority and was spearheaded by Dan Norris, metro mayor of the West of England, with hopes to help reduce congestion and pollution, and to combat climate change.
‘We’ve got a load of congestion in our region which costs our regional economy £300 million a year, and we have 300 people every year dying prematurely because of air pollution,’ Norris told The BBC. The council also want to help out commuters who might be struggling with rising fuel costs amid the cost of living crisis.
If you’re keen to take advantage of the scheme, keep an eye out for the ‘Birthday Bus’ website to go live. Then, all you have to do is fill out the application and your pass card will be sent straight to your mailbox. Not too shabby, if you ask us.
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