AS Metro Mayor, three things keep me up at night.
The first, is the horrendous cost-of-living crisis, with food inflation still at a 40-year high! This is frightening to the million-plus people I’m so proud to represent.
The second, is the climate emergency, with the latest research suggesting climate temperatures are rising even faster than feared.
The third, is how do we encourage voluntary behaviour change on an ongoing basis to meet the huge challenges the West faces?
With these three things in mind, I’m delighted to tell you about a special birthday initiative I’m introducing for everyone in our region.
Starting soon, you’ll be able to ride the buses of the West of England completely free throughout the month of your birthday. This will help your pocket, the planet, and, I hope, see positive change in the way we all travel in future – to reduce congestion, pollution, noise and delays.
The plan is for this innovative offer – which applies to the vast majority of buses running in our region, including the West’s bookable WESTlink minibuses – to begin for locals with a July birthday and run for 12 consecutive months, until every resident has had their chance to benefit.
If you’re not a regular bus user, this month of free bus travel is particularly aimed at you. Give it a go – you’ve (literally) got nothing to lose. If you’re a car user, think how many times you could avoid filling up at a petrol station?
I hope, with a whole month to try the bus for free, we come to like (and even love) bus travel to continue to use it into the future. 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.
Try a whole month – maybe you won’t look back!
This offer is also for you if you’re already a bus user. A free month to help during this tough cost-of-living crisis. Plus, you can use it for extra days out too – perhaps to enjoy the amazing shops, restaurants and attractions we have locally.
It’s super easy to claim your free ‘Birthday Month Bus Pass’ – you’ll just need to go online and we’ll send you your pass in the post. More details on the way!
People tell me buses are important. That affordable transport is critical. That behaviour change of an ongoing kind key to overcoming the climate crisis we all face. This initiative to give free bus travel in the month of your birthday is a UK first; it’s innovative and new. It’s the envy of the country, with the head of Bus Users UK calling it “an absolutely fabulous initiative”. It allows our brilliant West of England region to show the rest of the country how to take on the big challenges of our time.
I wish you many happy returns – and singles!