Greater Manchester to expand free bus travel for young people

Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig has announced plans to expand free Bee Network bus travel for young people, rolling out the Our Pass scheme to 11- to 16-year-olds.

Announced on her first official day in office, 3rd August, the newly elected mayor confirmed the change would take effect from 1st January 2027, with families able to apply for the pass later this year to ensure they can receive the benefit from day one. The change will expand free bus travel to nearly 200,000 young people across the city-region, and save households an estimated £500 per child in fares each year.

Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

“During my campaign I promised that I would apply a simple test to every decision I take as Mayor – will it make life better for the people of Greater Manchester? That’s why on day one I’m announcing the extension of Our Pass to give free bus travel to 11 to 16-year-olds. This is exactly the kind of decision that passes our test.

“It will put more money in the pockets of thousands of hard-working families – up to around £500 a year for every child aged 11 to 16 – and gives those young people a ticket to all the brilliant opportunities our city region offers.

“Families across Greater Manchester are struggling with the cost of living and I’m using my first day as Mayor to do something practical to make life a bit easier. By launching in January, young people will be boarding the Bee Network for free as they head back to school.”

The Our Pass scheme, first introduced in 2019, gives 16- to 18-year-olds free bus travel throughout Greater Manchester to make it easier for young people to access education, training and work, and is currently used by more than 50,000 young people.

Alongside expansion of Our Pass previously-agreed plans to give free travel to school on Bee Network buses to children in temporary accommodation will be implemented from this September.

A number of improvements to the Bee Network bus network are planned to take effect later this year.

In Stockport, a new service, the 377, will link Woodford Garden Village to Stockport town centre from Tuesday 1st September, while a new night service will operate on the 192 route on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between Stockport and Manchester city centre.