Rachel Reeves has confirmed that families stand to save £27 in August thanks to a free bus pass rule change. Under the Labour Party government's Great British Summer Savings scheme, announced in the Commons on Thursday, families will benefit significantly. Free bus travel for children will run from 1 to 31 August and covers participating local bus services across England.
The government press release provides an example: "This could save a family with two children who make a weekly return trip at a £1.50 child fare £27 in August." The initiative follows a successful pilot led last summer by the Mayor for the West of England, Helen Godwin.
Successful Pilot Leads to National Rollout
Ms Godwin said: "Kids Go Free in the West of England has seen around 1.4 million free journeys over the summer, Christmas, and Easter holidays since my election last year. It's brilliant that, after we have invested devolved funding to make a difference that people across the West can see and feel, the government is rolling out Kids Go Free nationally this August!"
She added: "There's been a huge increase in public transport use through our offer already, including children and families travelling on our new green buses. Bus travel from our lowest income areas doubled year-on-year last summer, with kids able to just hop on board and no registration needed. I'm so excited to see Kids Go Free return again for the school summer holidays - helping more children and young people to explore the best of what the West has to offer."
Support from Transport Experts
Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said: "Buses are the most used form of public transport, essential in connecting people to opportunities. Building on the successful fares offers of many of our member transport authorities, Kids Go Free is a welcome and timely intervention – helping to make public transport more affordable over the summer holidays, and supporting families and young people to get to where they want to go."
