From January 4, young people in the region will be able to use the Our Pass 11-6, which will afford them unlimited free bus travel, including on school services. Applications open on December 8.
It comes following the ‘storming success’ of the Our Pass for 16 to 18-year-olds, introduced in 2019. The new pass extends the offer to children when they start secondary school.
Mayor Ms Craig described said it was ‘transformational for young people and families across Greater Manchester’.
Flanked by school kids, she posed for pictures by a yellow Bee Network bus after the scheme was signed off at the latest Greater Manchester Combined Authority meeting at Bolton Town Hall.
During the meeting, Ms Craig joked about being referred to as ‘the bus lady’ during school visits because of how much she talks about them.
The project will cost a maximum of £20m, if every eligible child takes up the opportunity. It will be paid for from additional funding from January 2027. Ms Craig described it as an ‘anti-poverty tool’, saying it would put ‘£500 in the pockets of families’.
Bee Network buses will also see increased security; additional services on oversubscribed routes.
Ms Craig said: “I’m doing this for two reasons. The first is that it will be a big boost during a cost of living crisis as it gives around £500 per child to families of 200,000 children across Greater Manchester.
“But it also says to young people here in Greater Manchester that you can go wherever you want to go and your income, how much your parents have in their pockets, shouldn’t hold you back. It is a way to open up equal opportunities.
“This has been a priority for me from day one and we’ve had a system set up here in Greater Manchester that responds to this. It’s the first of its kind, we’ve never done this before, so we’ve done it from scratch.
“The hard work pays off because from January, for everyone between 11 and 16, it will be a game changer.”
Asked if it will mean investment will lack in other areas of the bus network, Ms Craig said: “I’ve always been ambitious from day one for young people in Greater Manchester. This doesn’t come at a cost to anyone else.
“When you use transport as a social good, both as an anti-poverty measure and a way to expand opportunity, it pays dividends for years to come.
“I’ve also set, in my first three months, expansion of new routes right across Greater Manchester – including more night buses.
“Come February we will set out the next wave of bus expansion. This proof you can do both, all within a cost we can afford.”
Year 7 children from Sharples High School in Astley Bridge, Bolton, joined Ms Craig for the photo opportunity.
Student Miles said: “I think it will really help young people get around as I know some people struggle to travel to different clubs and get to places they need to be. They could spend that money on something else.
“I think it’s the expense that is stopping people using the bus.”
George added: “Some of my mates just don’t have the money and ask to lend £1 to pay.”
Ariena said she only occasionally gets the bus to school, but with the free pass, she will hop on services more.
“I spoke to Bev and she is really nice and she’s a good mayor,” she added. “I am happy because normally politicians say we should lower the cost of bills and petrol – that’s all adult stuff.
“I am happy someone has looked out for the children. They can’t just leave the children out.”
The approval of the pass sees Ms Craig fulfil a promise she made on her first day as mayor in the summer summer – fittingly, again outside Bolton Town Hall.
Applications for Our Pass 11-16 open on December 8 – online, on the Bee Network app (for those year 9 and above applying for a digital pass), or via paper form, available at Bee Network travelshops. The pass will launch on January 4.
Children are eligible from the September they start secondary school. They must live in Greater Manchester. A £10 administration fee applies. Kids in years 7 and 8 will get a physical pass. They will need to apply before year 9.
Those in years 9 to 11 will have a choice of a physical pass and a digital pass.
Kids with an Igo card don’t have to do anything – they can use that pass to travel for free from January. They will automatically be issued a new Our Pass 11-16.
