Five million extra bus journeys have been taken since Mayor
took office a year ago,
thanks to a landmark free travel scheme to get more people to try
the bus.
The Passenger Incentive Programme, funded by government and
delivered by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) in partnership
with bus operators, offers free or discounted bus travel to
participating employers and organisations to encourage people to
make the long-term switch to bus travel for their daily commute.
Since May 2024, five million journeys have been made under the
try-before-you-buy scheme, which aligns with the Mayor's Journeys
for Everyone priority to connect communities and cut car
dependency by offering better, more affordable alternatives.
Among those to have benefitted from free travel are hospital
staff, care leavers, apprentices and charities. A free evening
travel offer was also used to support the region's nighttime
economy in the run up to Christmas.
The free travel is part of a
wider £20 million programme by TfWM, which is part of the West
Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), to help the region's bus
network recover from falling passenger numbers post Covid and
rising fuel and operating costs.
The Mayor said: “Already we have thousands of people who rely on
the bus network every day for their essential daily journeys. But
getting more people onto our bus network means we can cut traffic
congestion and deliver cleaner air for our region.
“That's why I am doing what it takes to get our buses working for
everyone and why we are looking at bringing them back under
public control, making them easier and more affordable for
everyone.
“The uptake on the free travel has been fantastic. We've seen
five million extra journeys over my first year in office but we
still need to do more to make the region's buses work better for
local people.”
The incentive scheme is funded by the Department for Transport
through the region's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and is
one of several initiatives designed to support a passenger-led
recovery of the local bus network.
As part of the £20 million programme, TfWM, is offering free bus
travel to targeted groups, including care leavers and
apprentices, to support them as they begin a new chapter in their
lives or careers.
The offer has proven particularly popular with large employers,
NHS trusts, colleges, councils and charities. It allows them to
encourage staff and service users to try the bus and consider a
long-term shift in how they travel.
Among those to benefit is Coventry-based Underground Lights, an
organisation that supports people with experience of homelessness
and mental health challenges through a programme of creative
workshops and community-led theatre.
Beth Fiducia-Brookes, artistic director for the charity, said:
“It's wonderful to see the impact this free travel offer has had
on our members, enabling them to access our workshops, and other
opportunities in the region.
“Our members have made 3,381 journeys through this scheme, and
they say they feel less stressed and have a greater sense of
freedom and wellbeing as a result."
With 236 million journeys a year, buses are the backbone of the
West Midlands public transport network. But with funding
pressures and falling ridership in some areas, they need
continued support to boost passenger numbers, keep services
running, and maintain low fares.
To tackle these challenges and help people switch to long-term
public transport use, the Mayor has proposed moving to a bus
franchising model which would put services under public control.
A final decision will be made at the WMCA Board meeting in May,
following a three-month public consultation earlier this year.
Organisations across the region can apply to take part in the
incentive scheme through the TfWM website.
