Sheffield to Offer Free Bus and Tram Travel to Under-18s in Pilot Scheme

Sheffield City Council approved a 29-week pilot scheme for free bus and tram travel for children and young people aged 5 to 18. The trial will cost £7.6m and run from February 2027. Council leader Fran Belbin emphasized the importance of reducing the cost of transportatio…

By Fran BelbinSep 3bbc.co.uk1 min read

Intelligence analysis by Qwen 2.5 (3B)

Councillor Leader Fran Belbin is standing in front of an orange and white coloured bus. She has short grey hair and is wearing burgundy-coloured glasses. She is wearing a black jacket and has a cream-coloured top underneath. She is holding a leaflet which is orange and has "South Yorkshire People's Network" written in whiteImage: bbc.co.uk

Sheffield City Council approved a pilot scheme offering free bus and tram travel to children and young people aged 5 to 18, with a cost of £7.6m and expected to run until September 2027. The scheme aims to help families with the cost of living and provide young people with greater independence.

The city of Sheffield is giving free rides on buses and trams to kids and teenagers up to 18 years old for a while to help their families with money and give them more freedom to do things.

Analysis

Council Leadership's Perspective on the Pilot Scheme":"Council leader Fran Belbin emphasized the importance of reducing the cost of transportation for young people, stating that 'the cost of a bus or tram journey should never be what stops a young person getting to college, taking up an apprenticeship, joining a sports club or simply spending time with friends.'","

The Role of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority":"The pilot scheme was developed with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, who drew on experience from Barnsley's MiCard scheme. This scheme saw passenger numbers increase particularly in some of the most deprived areas.","

Monitoring and Evaluation":"Eligible children and young people will use a dedicated smartcard, and usage, journey patterns, the cost, and impact on the transport network will be monitored to assess the success of the pilot."}

Key points

Free bus and tram travel for children and young people aged 5 to 18 in Sheffield
Cost of £7.6m for a 29-week trial
Expected to run until September 2027
Developed with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Monitoring of usage and impact on the transport network

The Upside

The pilot scheme could lead to a wider free travel program for young people in the region, benefiting more families and young people.

The Downside

If the pilot scheme does not work well, it could discourage other cities from offering similar programs.

Tagseconomy sheffield transport

Sep 3theguardian.com

UK mortgage rates set to rise as bond sell-off drives up borrowing costs – business live

UK mortgage rates are expected to increase following a global bond sell-off that has pushed up borrowing costs, despite a slight easing in bond yields at the start of trading.

Sep 3theguardian.com

China’s demise was gleefully predicted by the west – meanwhile, it built an AI revolution | Larry Elliott

Despite Western predictions of its economic collapse, China has evolved from a low-cost manufacturer to a leader in high-end goods and is now challenging the US in artificial intelligence.

A family of three looking at bills and finances at a kitchen table. From left to right, a child is standing on the floor looking out across the table, a man is looking over a woman's shoulder at A4 sheets of paper she is holding while standing drying a mug, and a woman sits at the table holding the papers and reading. The kitchen behind them in soft focus is mostly pastel-coloured.

Sep 3bbc.co.uk

Almost half of households do not see benefits of economic growth, report says

A new PwC report reveals that nearly half of UK households, equivalent to 12.5 million, live in areas where economic growth does not translate into improved living standards, highlighting a significant North-South divide.

US President Donald Trump's portrait on $1 coins, in honor of the nation's 250th anniversary of independence, on the day the coin is released for sale.

Sep 3bbc.co.uk

Trump $1 coin makes him first living president on US currency in a century

The US Mint has launched a commemorative $1 coin with a portrait of President Trump alongside 'In God we trust'. The coins are priced at $61 for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag of 100. They are not currently in stock on the US Mint's website.

Sheffield to Offer Free Bus and Tram Travel to Under-18s in Pilot Scheme

The Role of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority":"The pilot scheme was developed with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, who drew on experience from Barnsley's MiCard scheme. This scheme saw passenger numbers increase particularly in some of the most deprived areas.","

Monitoring and Evaluation":"Eligible children and young people will use a dedicated smartcard, and usage, journey patterns, the cost, and impact on the transport network will be monitored to assess the success of the pilot."}

More from this desk

UK mortgage rates set to rise as bond sell-off drives up borrowing costs – business live

China’s demise was gleefully predicted by the west – meanwhile, it built an AI revolution | Larry Elliott

Almost half of households do not see benefits of economic growth, report says

Trump $1 coin makes him first living president on US currency in a century

Sheffield to Offer Free Bus and Tram Travel to Under-18s in Pilot Scheme

The Role of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority":"The pilot scheme was developed with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, who drew on experience from Barnsley's MiCard scheme. This scheme saw passenger numbers increase particularly in some of the most deprived areas.","

Monitoring and Evaluation":"Eligible children and young people will use a dedicated smartcard, and usage, journey patterns, the cost, and impact on the transport network will be monitored to assess the success of the pilot."}

More from this desk

UK mortgage rates set to rise as bond sell-off drives up borrowing costs – business live

China’s demise was gleefully predicted by the west – meanwhile, it built an AI revolution | Larry Elliott

Almost half of households do not see benefits of economic growth, report says

Trump $1 coin makes him first living president on US currency in a century