The University of Bristol has published its findings after studying children’s and young people’s perception of the city’s free summer bus scheme in 2025.
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA)’s free bus travel scheme, Kids Go Free (KGF) was launched. The University investigated how this was experienced by children and families in Hartcliffe and Barton Hill, Bristol: two of the areas with the poorest outcomes for social mobility for young people from less advantaged backgrounds in the UK.
It builds on earlier research conducted with Room13 Hareclive and partners in 2018, which highlighted the importance of bus access for children and young people in these areas and identified barriers to everyday mobility.
This study explores the social, financial, cultural, geographical, or practical barriers that continue to limit bus use, and the impacts of the scheme on children’s opportunities, independence, and perceptions of public transport. Conducted between October and December 2025, this mixed methods study combined surveys, creative workshops, and focus groups with children, young people, and parents in the two communities.
In total, 616 people completed surveys and 73 participated in focus groups or interviews. Participants included children and young people across all school year groups, alongside 51 parents, most of whom were female and from White and Black ethnic backgrounds. Informal conversations with community partners and 7 local bus drivers also helped contextualise the findings.
Evidence suggests that free bus travel had a significantly positive impact on children, young people and families. The offer was actively taken up by children and young people. They found it easy to use, and it was easier for them to do things they wanted to do because of it. Parents agreed that free bus travel increased children’s mobility and independence and relieved their financial burdens. Nonetheless, there are multiple barriers preventing children from participating in the scheme more fully. These include concerns over safety on the buses and route reliability.
Among the findings were that the vast majority of respondents benefited from the KGF scheme. 65.6% of children, 72.2% of young people and 88.2% of parents surveyed said they or their children have used the free bus offer during the summer. Compared to the average increase in bus use across the region of 32%, Hartcliffe saw a 130% increase in under-16s taking the bus over the school summer holidays thanks to the KGF scheme. Similarly, Lawrence Hill, which Barton Hill is part of, had a 56% increase in the summer.
Click HERE to read the full report.
(Picture: Colin Peachey/Dreamstime)
