From Saturday 4 September, Herefordshire County Council announced that all weekend bus travel will be free. Thanks to investment as part of the Covid-19 Recovery Fund, people will be able to travel on any bus in the county as often as they like for free. The only condition is that the journey must be entirely within the county.
To help people make the most of the scheme, there are also additional services on Sundays serving several locations including Bromyard, Ledbury, Leominster, Kington and Colwall.
Free weekend bus travel is one element of the council’s Covid-19 Recovery Plan, which is providing funding of £6m to support the county in its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Councillor John Harrington, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport, told the Hereford Times: “We are very pleased to be able to offer free, unlimited weekend bus travel for the whole county for what we hope will be at least a year. By making it easier and cheaper to get around, the scheme will help to connect people and communities, and provide a kick start to the local economy by getting people back to enjoying our vibrant city and market towns. Travelling by bus is often better for your physical and mental well-being, allowing you to sit back, take in the world from the window and enjoy the ride. It also reduces congestion and wear and tear on the road network, and is better for the environment. We’re encouraging everybody to compile their own ‘bus-it list’ – a selection of locations, journeys and experiences in the county that can be enjoyed thanks to free bus travel. Whether it’s an afternoon shopping in a high street, a day out to a museum or historic site, or travelling to meet friends for a meal or a drink at a local café or restaurant, you have all the reasons in the world to ‘bus-it’.”
Sunday services will now be provided on 13 routes, complementing the existing six services already operation.
Full information can be found at:herefordshire.gov.uk/bus-it
