Thousands of schoolchildren in Swansea have been provided with bus passes to travel free on local buses during the Easter holidays.
A second free travel scheme for children is set to operate in the city, offering children between 5 – 15 the chance to travel for free on bus services which start and end in Swansea.
The offer will begin on Saturday 31 March and will continue through the Easter holidays until April 15.
Cath Swain, Group Leader for Transportation in Swansea Council, said: “Every child within the age group who lives in Swansea will qualify for a bus pass. Schools in the city will have distributed the passes to children before they break up for the Easter holidays.
The previous Christmas scheme received praise from Keith Towler, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, and local bus operator – First Cymru, said there was a noticeable uplift in the number of young people using public transport over the period.
Cath added: “We ran the offer in December and it was a huge success. Transport providers in the city reported an increase in passenger numbers.”
Jonathan Atter, Headteacher of Gwyrosydd Primary School praised the scheme. He said: “The free bus tickets initiative has been brilliant for the children at our school. At a time when money is tight in the home it has meant that parents don’t have to worry about transport costs and it has given children the opportunity to go to organised events around the city or to meet their friends in town.
“All in all it’s made leisure time and family time more affordable. We are really pleased to see the initiative being run again at Easter.”
