News / Transport
£8m ‘birthday buses’ scheme criticised as ‘gimmick’
People across the Bristol area will soon be able to ride buses for free during their birthday month.
The £8m initiative from the West of England Combined Authority begins in July and runs for 12 months.
But the scheme has already been criticised for spending such a large sum of money on an “unserious novelty policy” at a time when bus services across the region have been axed and there is limited funding for active travel.
is needed now More than ever
WECA hope that the ‘birthday buses’ will act as a catalyst for bus travel, boosting passenger numbers and encouraging a long-term shift in travel behaviour.
“I hope, with a whole birthday month to try the bus for free, the public comes to like, and even love, bus travel and then continue to use it into the future,” said metro mayor Dan Norris.
“Other places in the UK have tried free bus travel for a day, or a weekend, but this is very different. It’s about encouraging lasting behaviour change.
“Trying a whole month of free birthday bus travel could mean the travelling public never look back!”
Metro mayor Dan Norris hopes that the ‘birthday buses’ will act as a catalyst for bus travel – photo: WECA
Leader of the Conservative group on South Glos Council, Sam Bromiley, said that “residents don’t want gimmicks, they want buses that turn up and aren’t cancelled without warning”.
Green Party town councillor for Radstock, Liam Kirby, said: “Right, so we got a paltry £3.6m across all of WECA for Active Travel, but we’re putting £8m aside for this unserious novelty policy?”
Andrew Brown, Lib Dem councillor for Hengrove & Whitchurch Park, added: “Imagine what £8m could do to deliver better services across the city (and region) for people *all year round*”
James Crawford tweeted: “It would be much more useful spending the money on making the buses more reliable so you can spend less time waiting for the bus and more time enjoying your birthday!”
Somerset&Aachen said: “Dan – instead please could you spend a fraction of that on reinstating the 5 bus route? Stapleton completely cut off ever since that was cut.”
But Rob Anthony on Twitter was more optimistic, writing: “Something positive in the region, someone trying to help people and still everyone moans.”
Passengers will be able to register for free travel at www.birthdaybus.co.uk, supplying an address within the region, date of birth and a digital passport-style photo via an online form. A card will then be sent in the post.
Main photo: WECA
Read next:
- £3.6m funding for walking and cycling improvements
- Bristol’s bus network is ‘near collapse’
- Passengers share experiences after bus cuts
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