Free Bus Sunday - no fares in West Yorkshire on October 31 to mark COP26

Bus travel throughout West Yorkshire will be free next Sunday, October 31.
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, on an electric busMayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, on an electric bus
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, on an electric bus

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, made the announcement at a meeting of the combined authority earlier this week.

"Free Bus Sunday" is intended to encourage people in the region to take the bus to be greener - and help raise awareness of next month’s United Nations climate change conference in Glasgow (COP26).

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Tackling the climate emergency and protecting the environment is one of the Mayor’s 10 pledges to West Yorkshire.

Ms Brabin is attending COP26 to set out how this and other pledges are supporting urgent, affirmative action in her region to respond to the climate crisis. This includes encouraging people to swap private car travel for public transport.

Free Bus Sunday will be co-funded by the combined authority and West Yorkshire’s bus operators following a suggestion from the Mayor.

On Sunday, October 31 there will be no charge on any bus journey within the districts of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Bradford.

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The plans have been developed by the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance with the participation of all bus operators including First, Arriva and Transdev.

Ms Brabin said: “We’re encouraging everyone in West Yorkshire to get involved in ‘Free Bus Sunday’.

“The day will help raise awareness of the important issues being discussed at COP26; and the need for all of us to respond to the climate crisis by using public transport instead of private cars.

“I often use the bus to travel in West Yorkshire and I hope people who don’t normally do this will take a bus journey and be encouraged to use bus travel more often.

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“Our long-term plans also mean the experience of bus travel in West Yorkshire will improve even more and ‘Free Bus Sunday' is just the first step we’re taking to place the bus at the heart of the region’s transport.

“We want buses to be the first choice for travel in West Yorkshire - not because you don’t have a car, but because they’re more affordable, convenient to use, and better for the environment. 

"I hope I can see as many people as possible on board on ‘Free Bus Sunday'.”