Why bus it?
In association with the Somerset Bus Partnership
With spiralling fuel costs and rising inflation hitting garage bills has there ever been a better time to bus it?
Somerset Council is joining forces with the Somerset Bus Partnership which represents passengers to encourage more people in the county to use the bus.
It’s not just about what you put in your fuel tank, it’s how much you have to spend on taxing, servicing and insuring your vehicle. Now’s the time to look at what you could be saving.
Using the bus can save money and it can save wear and tear on your car. There are all sorts of deals with bus operators which can save you money.
£2 Bus fare for any single journey is extended to December 2024
The Government has announced this week that the £2 fare cap for any single journey across Somerset and England will stay in place until December 2024. The news comes as Somerset Council launches the latest phase of the ‘Bus It’ campaign.
Four at risk bus routes safeguarded after Council and Buses of Somerset reach agreement
Somerset Council and First Bus South which operates Buses of Somerset have reached an agreement to ensure four routes in the county can continue to run for another year.
The four services, 58, 54, 28, and 25 were at risk of being stopped or reduced due to low passenger numbers.
Last autumn, Somerset Council stepped in with Government money to keep the routes running and launched a campaign to drive up passenger numbers. The campaign achieved some success, with more passengers using the services, but not enough to negate the ongoing need for financial support. However following talks, Buses of Somerset and Somerset Council have reached an agreement to keep the services running until the end of March 2025.
The 54 and 25 will continue to be supported using Government funding from the Bus Service Improvement Grant (BSIP Plus), provided by Somerset Council, and Buses of Somerset has agreed to run the 58 and 28 services without subsidy. 54 Yeovil to Taunton 58/58a Yeovil to Wincanton 25 Taunton to Dulverton 28 Taunton to Minehead
Read more – Four at risk bus routes safeguarded after council and buses of Somerset reach agreement
Don't forget - you can go anywhere for your £2 single fare!
It’s worth remembering that the initiative applies to cross-county services, which means for example you can travel from Street to Bristol or Yeovil to Bridport for just £2.
The 13 operators involved in the scheme in Somerset are:
• ATWEST
• Bakers Dolphin
• Community Transport (South West) Ltd
• FromeBus
• Libra Travel
• Mendip Community Transport
• Somerset Council
• Dartline
• Faresaver Buses
• First South West (Buses of Somerset)
• First West of England
• Hatch Green Coaches
• South West Coaches
New evening bus services introduced from 30 January 2023
Evening bus services on some key routes in Somerset began running from 30 January 2023.
Somerset Council is subsidising evening services from Monday to Saturday connecting Taunton with the towns of Minehead, Bridgwater, Wellington and Chard after 8pm and running to at least 10.30pm. Currently most of the services stop between 8pm and 8.30pm
The evening bus routes are as follows:
1E – Taunton to Priorswood/Musgrove Park/Silk Mills Park and Ride – hourly service with last departure from Taunton Parade to Silk Mills 10.35pm and last departure from Taunton Parade to Priorswood at 11.05pm.
21 – Bridgwater to Taunton (Musgrove Park Hospital) – hourly service with last departure from Musgrove Park Hospital to Bridgwater Bus Station 11.03pm and last departure from Bridgwater Bus Station to Musgrove Park Hospital 10.15pm.
22 – Wellington to Taunton – hourly service with last departure from Taunton Castle Way at 11.05pm and last departure from Wellington High Street at 11.50pm.
28 – Minehead to Taunton – (including diversion via Cotford St Luke and Norton Fitzwarren on last three journeys in each direction). Additional journeys at 8.30pm and 10.30pm from Taunton Castle Way and 8.45pm and 10.15pm from Minehead, Butlins.
30 – Taunton to Chard – Additional journeys at 8.10pm and 10.10.pm from Taunton Parade to Chard (via Taunton Gateway Park and Ride) and an additional journey 9.11pm from Chard, Boden Street.
Council keeps fares low as bus use continues to rise
New £1.50 fare for Taunton remains half the price of a single fare in 2018.
Somerset Council this week announced revised bus fares for the Taunton Town Zone which are staying low to ensure bus use keeps growing in popularity. Since the introduction of the Government-funded £1 fare 18 months ago there has been a nearly 30 per cent rise in bus use in Taunton and the Council wants to keep supporting this.
Following a recent Council review into fares and revenue it was clear a slight increase was needed to keep services in Taunton sustainable. From 1 June this will be £1.50 for any adult single fare and 80p for a child. The new fares will be reviewed at the end of this year.
Map below shows Taunton Zone.
The benefits
Look at the finances – can you save money?
You can use the online calculator here: Car costs calculator – Money Helper to work out your car running costs and check out the ticket deals on our links to local bus operators.
Whether it’s commuting or day-tripping you could be saving money with some of the options available, so why not take a look?
You can work out the fuel costs of your journey here: Fuel Calculators – Fuel Economy
Protect the environment
Catching the bus takes your car off the road – if 50 people take the bus instead of commuting that’s 50 cars fewer heading into town. Factor in bus lanes and the amount of time you’re sitting in traffic at the busiest times and there are even more reasons to bus it.
You could be saving money, and you’ll definitely be cutting carbon.
Time for you
On the bus, you can read your book, catch up with friends on your phone, check emails, or just relax and watch the Somerset scenery pass by. How does that compare with your car commute?
Can I save?
A £100 ticket bundle from Buses of Somerset buys you 20-day tickets – that’s unlimited travel for £5 per day which can be used flexibly at any point in the year. If your daily commute by car is a round trip of 30 miles your petrol cost per day using an average consumption of 35 mpg is around £7.24 per day – that’s around £144 for 20 days. If your daily commute is a round trip of 50 miles that’s a daily cost of about £12, so £240 for a 20-day period.
Find out more about Buses of Somerset ticket bundles (right) as well as weekly and monthly passes on Buses of Somerset – Ticket prices
Are you using your bus pass? Have you applied for your bus pass?
If you’re not using your bus pass you’re missing out on unlimited free travel across the county after 9.30 am. You could be exploring Wells, Minehead, Taunton, Glastonbury and Bath as well as visiting Exmoor.
Now’s the time to live life to the full and make the most of your bus pass!
Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply on our Concessionary bus passes page.
Flexible transport – Somerset’s Slinky Bus
Slinky Bus is a door-to-door demand-responsive transport service funded by Somerset Council for people not served by or unable to access conventional public transport. All the vehicles are accessible and the service can be used for various purposes including; getting to local health appointments or exercise classes, visiting friends or family, going shopping or attending social events. You can also use Slinky as a link to access other forms of public transport. Plan your bus journey, and find links to operators, Slinky and community transport on our Somerset Think Travel portal
