Bus travel in Portsmouth will be free on 18 June for Clean Air Day, courtesy of the local council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan funding.
Portsmouth City Council is joining forces with First Solent and Stagecoach to make travel free on that day on all buses within the city boundary, including the Pompey Link service.
Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport at Portsmouth City Council, says: “It’s fantastic to see more and more people choosing to travel by bus in Portsmouth.
“We’ve made many significant improvements to bus travel recently through our Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan, including introducing smooth, new electric buses.
“Put together, these changes are making bus travel a more convenient and attractive option, helping to improve air quality while keeping the city moving better.
“I’d encourage everyone to take advantage of the free travel on 18 June and see how easy it is to make the bus part of your everyday journeys.”
The council is using the Clean Air Day campaign to highlight the part played by bus in reducing air pollution. It points out that a bus can take up to 75 private car journeys and that, if everyone switched one car trip a month to bus, it would result in a saving of two million tonnes of CO2.
Peter Matthews, Head of Commercial, First Bus South, adds: “We’re encouraging everyone to take advantage of free bus travel on Clean Air Day and discover just how easy and convenient travelling by bus can be.
“Improved services, more frequent routes, accessible vehicles and the introduction of electric buses mean there’s never been a better time to give the bus a try.
“Whether you’re travelling to work, school or across the city, we hope residents will take this opportunity to experience the benefits for themselves.”
The city has experienced a 53% increase in bus patronage over the past three years, carried by a fleet of buses of which more than one in four is battery-electric.
Marc Reddy, Managing Director of Stagecoach South, says: “We’re delighted to be working with Portsmouth City Council to support Clean Air Day by offering free bus travel across the city on 18 June.
“This initiative gives residents the perfect opportunity to experience the convenience, affordability and environmental benefits of travelling by bus.
“Every journey made by bus instead of car helps reduce congestion and improve air quality, and we’re proud to play our part in supporting a cleaner, healthier Portsmouth.
“With growing passenger numbers and continued investment in cleaner, more sustainable vehicles, we’re seeing more people choose the bus for their everyday journeys. We encourage everyone to take advantage of the free travel offer and discover how easy it is to leave the car at home.”
