Free child bus travel scheme may be piloted in 2027

A pilot scheme offering free bus travel for children and young people in Sheffield could begin next year.

Set to run from January to July 2027, Sheffield City Council said it was looking to emulate the success of the Barnsley MiCard travel pass scheme.

The Barnsley MiCard launched in August last year and saw one million free bus journeys by passengers aged five to 18 in its first six months.

Will Stewart, director of investment, climate change and planning at the local authority, said: "Transport affordability is a big barrier to some people in our city, particularly the more deprived communities.

"Improving access to education and training for young people is a key priority."

An earlier motion agreed by the council in February supported bringing a scheme to Sheffield, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The initial scheme was funded via £5m from Barnsley Council and £1m from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Referring to the Barnsley scheme, councillor Ben Miskell said that 63% of free journeys started in the most deprived neighbourhoods in the town.

He added that introducing the scheme in Sheffield could help to reduce "the financial hit" on parents as they would no longer have to "jump in the car".

"What a wonderful problem that would be if we as a city had to put on 'hot buses' effectively to increase the number of services that would be available in order for children to go to school," he said.

Councillor Angela Argenzio said one in three people in the city didn't have access to a car, so the move wouldn't necessarily cut car journeys.

Responding, councillor Fran Belbin said the pilot would be "a massive bonus" to people suffering through a cost-of-living crisis likely to be made worse by rising oil prices.

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