By KLTV Newsdesk –
Bus operators in West Yorkshire have unveiled new tickets to help young people in the region travel more for less.
An all-new range of tickets for under 19s is being introduced from today (Sunday 25 July 2021) by the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance, a partnership between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and bus operators.
The alliance says this will help Yorkshire’s young people to get out and about this summer – and reduce the cost of travel when they return to education in September.
As part of her pledge, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said she is committed to improving bus services, and it is hoped that the new deals offer an opportunity to obtain even better value for young people who travel by bus.
New Fares and Tickets
The new fares and tickets include:
Single (one-way journey) tickets – Fares will be split into three different amounts based on the distance travelled; 60p, £1.20 or £1.80. The price caps out at £1.80 no matter the length of the journey. Single tickets will be available directly from bus drivers and each operator’s mobile app. The £1.20 single fare will also be available to buy on West Yorkshire’s MCARD mobile app.
MCARD tickets – A range of pre-paid tickets will be available on the MCARD mobile app or the Under 16 and 16-18 smartcard.
- The ‘MyDay’ pass will cost £2.25 for a day’s travel on any bus and will be cheaper if bought in the available bundles of 3, 5, or 10 separate days
- The ‘MyWeek’ pass will offer seven days of travel for £9 a week.
- Finally, the ‘MyMonth’ pass allows for unlimited countywide bus travel for £35 for the full month.
As noted, all three passes will be available on the MCARD mobile app, and those with the blue Under 16 or 16-18 smartcard will be able to top it up with the new passes at a Payzone store, a Bus Station Travel Centre or ticket machine, or from the Android MCARD app.
The announcement of the new Under 19 fares and tickets took place at the Dean Clough business and leisure park in Halifax, followed by a Mayoral visit to Bradley Woods in Brighouse, where Mayor Brabin met 20 teenagers taking part in a two-week National Citizens’ Service summer activities programme, supported by MCARD with free travel to promote bus use among young people.
‘Step in the right direction’
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “I am delighted to be able to launch the Under 19 Fare Deal. I was elected on a pledge to introduce simpler and cheaper tickets, and today’s launch is a real step in the right direction and will benefit young people across the region.
“As we begin to recover from the pandemic, our young people must be at the very forefront of our minds.
“Not only do cheaper fares mean better value, but these changes can also act as a gateway to secure better jobs, better opportunities and brighter futures.”
‘Value and freedom’
West Yorkshire’s transport leaders are also welcoming the new tickets as a positive step to encourage young people to travel safely across the region
Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance, said: “I’m delighted that these new tickets are being introduced through our alliance with the county’s bus operators.
“The new fares will offer outstanding value and real freedom to travel across West Yorkshire.
“The ability to travel freely across West Yorkshire is vitally important to our young people as they develop social skills and prepare for adulthood – and will also support many less well-off families who are facing financial challenges beyond the pandemic.”
‘Stable and reliable services’
As part of the alliance, West Yorkshire’s major bus operators are also supporting the new tickets for young people.
Transdev in Yorkshire CEO, Alex Hornby, said: “Throughout the pandemic, we have worked together through our successful alliance of bus operators to deliver stable and reliable services for key workers, school pupils, students and others who depend on us every day.
“As we look to recover from the pandemic without increasing road congestion and pollution, and at a time when we are expanding our network within West Yorkshire to create new travel opportunities, we will continue working together to quickly deliver real improvements and attract more people to choose and use the bus.”
‘Deliver real benefits’
First West Yorkshire Managing Director, Paul Matthews, said: “As active members of our alliance of bus operators, we share the same desire to encourage more young people to choose and use the bus to travel safely around our region.
“Working together, we are delivering these new fares and tickets from MCARD quickly, so that young people can enjoy the benefits of being able to travel freely across West Yorkshire straight away.”
Arriva Yorkshire Area Managing Director, Patrick Sibley, said: “The new Under 19 tickets are the result of strong partnerships across our alliance of bus operators, which is working right now to deliver real benefits for all of West Yorkshire’s bus users.
“Our experience of working together throughout the pandemic underlines the importance to us of giving young people the help they need to travel across West Yorkshire. I’m sure these new fares and MCARD tickets will prove immensely popular with under 19s.”
Full details of all the new fares and tickets for under 19s available for travel on all buses across West Yorkshire are available at: https://www.m-card.co.uk