Swansea Council’s free bus initiative is back for the summer holidays, offering free travel within the city.
The Free Ride Swansea offer means residents will be able to travel on public transport in the city for a total of 20 days between July 26 – August 26 and operates during each weekend (Fri – Mon).
The Council-led free travel initiative is now in its fourth year of operating after it was launched in the school summer holidays of 2021 and has seen tens of thousands of people taking the chance to travel for free, to do the shopping, see friends for a coffee, visit local landmarks or visit many of the wonderful beaches along the coastline.
Council Leader Rob Stewart has confirmed an additional £200,000 investment towards the free bus scheme, enabling the popular offer to continue through the summer as well as over the Christmas period.
Rob Stewart, said: “The free ride Swansea offer has been a huge success. It was the first initiative of its kind in Wales to offer free bus travel for everyone and getting on for half a million rides have been taken in its first two summers.
“At a time when we are all having to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, rising rents and mortgages, the return of the Free Ride Swansea offer will be welcomed by many families.
“From the feedback we’ve received in the past it’s clear that it’s helped hard-pressed families go places they’d have struggled to afford to visit otherwise.
“I’m delighted we have been able to provide further funding for the free bus service so that everyone can benefit.”
Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure, said: “School summer holidays can be an expensive time for families who are keen to keep their children occupied. Our free bus initiative gives everyone the chance to travel around our wonderful city and ensures they can save their hard-earned money for the wide variety of attractions on offer.”
“As well as this being a money-saving scheme for many, the initiative is also an attempt by the Council to encourage more people in the city to make better use of public transport and leave the car at home.
“The rising cost of fuel is something that is increasingly making it difficult for car owners to keep up with and so I’m confident we will see even more people this summer choose the bus instead.”
The free bus initiative applies to all bus journeys starting and finishing within the Swansea Council area until 7pm on days when the offer is running.
