Many happy returns – and singles – as free birthday month bus passes return

The popular Birthday Bus scheme is relaunching today (28 October 2024) for its second year, offering North Somerset residents another chance to enjoy a whole month of free bus travel across the North Somerset and West of England Combined Authority areas.

North Somerset residents will be able to get free bus travel throughout their birthday month from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025.

And 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, over 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.

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.

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 Sunday 1 December.

As Birthday Bus kicks off for its second year, data collected will provide valuable insights into how the scheme can drive passenger growth and shape public transport habits.

Feedback from last year includes:

"The form was really easy to fill out and the card arrived a few weeks after. I use the bus every day to get to and from work so this was really helpful. It was such a lovely birthday treat!"

"It has changed my way of travelling. I intend to catch the bus more often rather than drive. My husband now has his older persons pass so we venture out on the bus more."

Register here: Register - Birthday Bus

Cllr 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 3000 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!"

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.

The council is investing in the public transport network through BSIP, ensuring the local area remains accessible and well-connected to keep all road users moving as North Somerset grows.

This plan aims to create an efficient bus network that makes buses the first public transport choice for our residents and ensures long-term sustainability. It includes increasing public transport reliability and frequency through service and infrastructure improvements, upgraded bus stops and new transport hubs as well as improved cycling and pedestrian facilities.