Affordable Bus Travel in Bristol

Earlier this year Helen Godwin announced that the "Kids Go Free" bus scheme was being extended for three more years.

“I am so excited that Kids Go Free is back again! We have guaranteed the funding for the next three years so children and young people in our part of the world can hop on the bus for free every Summer, Christmas and Easter school holidays until at least 2029."

This welcome announcement means that more young people can take advantage of public transport to travel around the region.

Bristol (and WECA) see the Bus Network as a key enabler for reducing car usage in the region. As part of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme households were sent £100 of First Bus tickets to households to encourage people to use the bus instead of a car.

This one off incentive will be useful to some people, but what more can Bristol (and WECA) do to encourage more bus travel in the region?

Pensioner Bus Passes

This are the current rules for "pensioner" bus passes across the UK.

England has the least generous eligibility age, which is a direct result of the increase in the retirement age since 2010:

Effect on free bus passes in England

Because England links the national older person's bus pass to State Pension age, these increases also delay when residents qualify for free bus travel.

For example:

• In 2010, a man generally qualified at 65 and a woman at 60.
• By October 2020, both qualified at 66.
• By April 2028, the qualifying age will have reached 67 for both.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland continue to offer their principal older-person travel concessions from age 60.

This means that, by 2028, people in England could have to wait seven years longer for a free bus pass than residents of the other UK nations, unless their local authority offers an earlier concession.

Local councils in England are allowed to introduce their own scheme that are more inclusive.

This was confirmed by Parliament in June 2025:

Local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations such as lowering the age of eligibility. Additional local concessions are provided and funded by local authorities from local resources.

• In Greater London residents qualify at age 60
• In Merseyside residents qualify at age 60

What is the WECA position?

In 2018 WECA took advantage of the "equalisation of male and female retirement ages" as a cost reduction and cut the transport levy.

I cannot find any proposals from WECA for the introduction of a "pensioner" travel scheme similar to the schemes in Greater London and Merseyside.

What might it cost to introduce a concessionary travel scheme for all residents aged 60 plus?

Using Census Data for 2021 the estimated cost of a scheme would be approximately £3 million a year.

In comparison WECA spent a similar sum (£2.5 million) on Agency staff from Comensura Ltd in 2025.

And it would provide Helen with another photo opportunity.