As part of its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), designed to improve bus services in the city, Portsmouth City Council has collaborated with local bus companies First Solent and Stagecoach to offer free bus travel on certain days across the year.
These fare free days are a great opportunity for people to try out using the bus and see how easy and convenient it can be, all the while helping to reduce emissions in the city by taking cars off the road.
The fare free days have also helped residents to get out and about and explore Portsmouth by providing access to the city’s shops, restaurants, and museums, as well as the beach, parks, and other activities.
Clean Air Day 2024
To mark Clean Air Day this year, Portsmouth City Council collaborated with local bus companies First Solent and Stagecoach to offer free travel on Thursday 20 June 2024. This was available on all bus services when getting on the bus within the Portsmouth boundary.
Clean Air Day is the UK’s biggest air pollution campaign and encourages people to make simple changes to reduce the serious health effects caused by vehicle and other emissions. A full double decker bus can take up to 75 cars off the road, and if everyone switched just one car journey a month to the bus, there would be one billion fewer car journeys, and a saving of 2 million tonnes of CO21.
This initiative ran during Better Transport Week 2024, a week-long celebration of sustainable transport which took place from 17 – 23 June. The council celebrated by offering bus journeys for free on Thursday 20 June, and encouraging more people to try out the bus.
Free buses every weekend in September
September 2024 was Catch the Bus Month, a nationwide event to encourage bus usage and bring people together through accessible and inclusive transport.
Portsmouth City Council collaborated with local bus companies First Solent and Stagecoach to offer free travel on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of September 2024. This was available on all bus services when getting on the bus within the Portsmouth boundary.
This opportunity helped families and other passengers save money and get out and about this September, and provided a chance for people to try out using the bus and see how easy and convenient it can be, all the while helping to reduce emissions in the city by taking cars off the road.
Free bus travel was available for everyone on the 31 August, and the 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 29 September.
Small Business Saturday 2024
Portsmouth residents were encouraged to support small and independent businesses this Christmas season by taking part in Small Business Saturday, with the added bonus of free bus travel throughout the city.
On Saturday, 7 December 2024, Portsmouth City Council, in partnership with First Solent and Stagecoach South, offered free bus travel across all routes in Portsmouth to give residents an opportunity to try out the bus and support local businesses across the city.
