There’s never been a better time to ‘Bus It’ in Taunton as a new £1 fare for any single bus journey in the town comes into effect from Monday (December 5).
The major fare cut arrives just in time for the festive season and is part of a radical shake-up of bus services under Somerset County Council’s Government-funded Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
The aim is to boost bus use while helping passengers to save money as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, fuelled in part by high petrol and diesel prices.
The £1 single fare starts from Monday and applies to journeys in the Taunton ‘zone’. You can check the map on the Somerset County Council website to see the area covered by the zone.
Somerset County Council and the Somerset Bus Partnership have launched the ‘Bus It’ campaign to support the BSIP improvements and encourage more people to use bus services at a time when many routes have been lost or are under threat due to lack of patronage. It’s hoped people will take advantage of the new £1 fare in Taunton to get to work, school, the shops or leisure activities.
Getting more passengers on buses in Taunton will strengthen the case for further BSIP funding to support similar initiatives in other towns across Somerset.
Cllr Mike Rigby, Somerset County Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Digital said: “I’m really pleased to get this new £1 fare rolled out as we head into Christmas – it’s got to be a money-saver when it comes to getting into town to do your shopping if you factor in car parking and fuel costs.
“And it’s not just for Christmas – this initiative is for just over 2 years, benefitting anyone looking to get around Taunton for work, school, leisure or shopping until at least 2025. By that time we hope to have cemented bus use as a core means of travel in the town, without the need for subsidy.
“If we can show the Government we can increase bus patronage in Taunton we have a strong case to apply for funding to reduce fares in other towns.
“By catching the bus, you can make a difference to the climate, to our environment and save money and wear and tear on your car. Now it’s just £1 for any single journey in Taunton it really does make sense to ‘Bus It’.”
Visit the Somerset County Council website to find out about ticket deals and calculate how much you could save.
For updates on traffic and travel follow @travelsomerset on Twitter and Facebook.
