A periodic free bus travel scheme for children administered by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has led to the highest rises in patronage in the most deprived areas of the region, figures from First Bus have shown.
The Kids Go Free offer, which runs during selected school holiday periods, led to a doubling in the number of under-16s travelling in some areas.
Data from First Bus comparing patronage in summer 2025 with 12 months earlier shows the largest increases (98%) came from areas where families have incomes among the lowest 10% in the country.
These included Filwood, Hartcliffe and Withywood, Kingswood, Lockleaze, and Staple Hill.
In areas where families fall into the lowest 30% income bracket, the increase averaged 89%.
In January, the authority approved allocated a further £9.9 million of Bus Service Improvement Plan funding towards fare initiatives such as Kids Go Free.
Statistics released last November revealed that, across the region, the scheme was accompanied by a year-on-year rise in child patronage of 24% in July and 40% in August.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, says: “Universal, easy-to-use services usually have the biggest benefit for communities where cash is tight.
“Kids Go Free has proved no exception to that rule and I’m sure will continue to be a success. This is a progressive policy, driving real change that families can see and feel, and something that we can all be proud of as we look ahead to the Easter school holidays.
“These latest remarkable figures show that the number of children and young people enjoying getting around the West by bus, sometimes for the first time, often doubled year-on-year in the places where people benefit most from free bus travel.”
