Free youth bus travel scheme hits a million journeys

A scheme to provide free bus travel for under-18s in Barnsley has seen one million journeys made in the six months since it began.

Since August, young people aged between five and 18 have been able claim free transport for all journeys within South Yorkshire that start or end in the borough.

The council said the scheme, called MiCard, was one of the first initiatives of its kind in England and enabled children to become more independent and develop life skills.

Steve Houghton, the authority's leader, said it not only "eased financial pressures on families" but opened up "greater access for children and young people to the many opportunities available across Barnsley and South Yorkshire".

A council spokesperson said 17,602 young people had or were in the process of receiving a Barnsley MiCard, with the number continuing to rise each week.

The card enables them to travel between 07:00 and 21:00 - including during weekends and school holidays.

The spokesperson added that 63% of all boardings had occurred in the borough's three most deprived neighbourhoods, benefiting those who needed it the most.

The most popular route continued to be the 66 service from Barnsley to Elsecar, it said.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has committed up to £1m to the initiative, with Barnsley Council contributing £5m, and the scheme is being trailled until August 2027.

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