A free travel scheme in the West Midlands has allowed an extra five million bus journeys to take place over the last year.
The scheme was established to help bus operators to reverse a fall in passenger numbers caused by Covid.
The Passenger Inventive Programme is funded by the government and delivered by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) with bus operators.
The scheme, backed by £20m of TfWM funding, offers free or discounted travel to participating employers and organisations whose employees switch to the bus for their daily commute.
Boosting bus ridership cuts traffic congestion
Among those who have benefitted from the scheme are hospital staff, care leavers, apprentices and charity workers, the WMCA said.
The free evening travel offer, which was in place in the run up to Christmas, was aimed at supporting the region’s night-time economy.
Since the pandemic, the region’s bus network has struggled, with falling passenger numbers and rising fuel and operating costs.
Richard Parkey, WM 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.”
236m bus journeys a year
More than 236 million bus journeys a year take place across the West Midlands.
To boost bus passenger numbers, the mayor has proposed a new franchising model. A final decision will be made on this in May.
