Free bus use for parents this half term

West Midlands mayor Richard Parker has announced that parents will be offered free travel during half-term this month

Parents in the West Midlands are to be offered free travel during half-term this month to help cut the cost of keeping children occupied while off school.

The step, announced by the region's mayor Richard Parker, is part of a passenger incentive programme, funded by the government, through the Bus Service Improvement Plan. It aims to encourage more people to use buses.

Free travel schemes have helped to deliver nine million bus journeys across the West Midlands in the past 18 months, according to Transport for West Midlands.

They include free evening travel in the run up to Christmas to support the night time economy, and free travel for hospital staff, care leavers, apprentices and charities.

There have also been discussions with large employers in the region to encourage their staff to use buses.

For the half-term scheme, parents and carers can apply for a Swift travel card pre-loaded with free bus travel to run between Monday 27 October and Sunday 2 November.

Those who take up the opportunity will also be offered a 25% discount on a further week's travel.

Mr Parker said: "This will make it cheaper, easier and greener to take the kids out for the day – perhaps for Halloween or even a fireworks display.

"And while we do that, we are busy bringing our buses back under public control, improving services and creating a transport system that works better for everyone."

The offer is available for new and lapsed bus users travelling with a child.

Applications will be open from Monday 6 October through the Transport for West Midlands website.