Free bus travel on offer for Christmas shoppers in West Berkshire
On two Saturdays in December, all bus journeys starting in West Berkshire are to be made free.
The offering is being made by West Berkshire Council in partnership with Reading Buses, Thames Travel and Stagecoach Hampshire, in a bid to support town centre shopping and ease congestion on local roads.
The scheme applies to journeys made from district bus terminals on December 11 and December 18, and applies to any Reading Buses, Newbury & District, Stagecoach and Thames Travel services.
The council's own service between Lambourn and Upper Lambourn will also be operating free of charge on the same days.
West Berkshire's executive member for transport, Richard Somner (Con, Tilehurst South and Holybrook), said: "In line with our environmental objectives we've switched our usual Christmas incentive from free car parking to free bus journeys.
"Residents will still have an incentive to get in and support our town centres, while also reducing pollution and protecting the environment.
"We're pleased to be working with transport companies to make this happen together for the benefit of local residents, retailers and, of course, the climate."
Reading Buses CEO Robert Williams added: "This festive offer is intended to support local retailers and minimise traffic congestion by encouraging more people to use the bus.
"This replaces free parking which has been provided by West Berkshire Council in previous years.
"A significant proportion of town centre visitors travel by bus, and with our work to develop an Enhanced Partnership and tackle the Climate Emergency, changing the council's offer from free car parking to free bus travel makes absolute sense. And we believe this will be a significant boon for residents and retailers alike.
"On Saturdays December 11 and 18 all bus journeys starting within West Berkshire will therefore be free of charge.
"However, we do ask that existing ticket holders and concessionary pass holders still scan their pass as normal.
"All other free journeys will be logged by the driver to measure the success of the scheme. Customers won't be issued with a ticket, but can just get on the bus and find a seat - as long as they are in West Berkshire, of course. And journeys can be made to anywhere on the route.
"But, if travelling cross-boundary, for example into Reading, the normal fare will need to be paid on the return journey that starts from outside West Berkshire."
