Column | Dan Norris, Metro Mayor – 29/08/2023

Earlier this month, I was in Bath to officially mark the very first day of Birthday Buses – a big thank you to the Bath Bus Company for letting me (and my cocker spaniel Angel) aboard one of their open-top buses for the occasion.

Since then, I’ve met plenty of people across the city, and the wider region, who’ve been some of the first passengers to enjoy free bus travel throughout the month of their birthday thanks to the brand-new scheme I’m running.

Helen, who works at a chocolate shop, told me how she’s been trialling the bus for August and has really loved helping the planet, and saving money on petrol at the same time.

Pauline, who I also bumped into in the month, told me Birthday Buses was a really good way to help ease a bit of financial stress during this frightening cost-of-living crisis.

The verdict is clear: so for those who haven’t already done so, please get applying for your free month of birthday travel at www.birthdaybus.co.uk today. There’s nothing to lose and lots to gain!

When I was coming up with the idea for Birthday Buses, I knew we needed a plan that ticked lots of boxes. There are so many crises at the moment, with the cost-of-living crisis and the environmental emergency always at the forefront of my thinking.

Birthday Buses ticks that cost-of-living box, with a whole month of bus travel for free. That’s one-twelfth off your annual transport bills.

It’s also about tackling the climate emergency. A huge 44% of our carbon emissions currently come from transport, with fewer than one in ten regional commutes made on public transport.

Shockingly, there are 300 preventable premature deaths due to air pollution every year. That’s why we need new ideas to encourage people out of their cars.

Like many regions, our buses are struggling to match pre-pandemic performance. While most people who used to use buses are doing so again, they are travelling less. Delve in and this makes sense.

It reflects changing demand, as working from home practices displace commuting patterns and many face-to-face meetings, like GP appointments, move online. But with people making fewer journeys, there is less fare income coming in. That means cuts and a downward spiral.

Other places have tried free travel for a day or a week, but this is a whole month. Why? Because try our buses and I think you might like them. Maybe even love them. And after a whole month, you might never look back.

We have to try something new. Just throwing taxpayers money at subsidising buses isn’t sustainable. You spend the money, and it runs out. And then you need more.

Instead, I’m determined that we invest to encourage new passengers to use our buses. It is the only long-term solution to grow a thriving bus network.

So to Helen, Pauline and especially to you: many happy returns – and singles!