Thousands of young people apply for Tiger Pass to get £1 bus fares in Cambridgeshire

Young people aged 25 and under in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough can now get £1 bus fares as part of an initiative funded by a trebling of the mayoral precept.

The lower fares are aimed at helping young people get around more affordably in what has been described as a “huge leap” for public transport in the region.

Labour mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “I know how important good quality public transport is for so many of our residents. It’s why we’re creating 30 new and improved bus routes across the region. It’s why we’re working to change the way the whole system is managed. And it’s why we’re making bus fares more affordable for residents under the age of 25.

“Alongside those 30 new routes, these £1 fares are huge step forwards for public transport across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It shows how serious we are about building a better network.

“One that we can all rely on. One that puts opportunities within reach, that protects our environment, and that boosts the economy.”

Young people must visit the Combined Authority website to apply, which is free of charge, for an under 25 ‘Tiger Pass’.

So far more than 2,500 applications have been received by the Combined Authority, with more than 1,100 Tiger bus pass cards printed to date.

All applicants need is a photograph and proof of age. The credit card-sized passes will have a tiger-inspired brand, making them distinctive and easily recognisable.

Cardholders then show the pass to the bus driver when boarding to get the £1 fare. Individuals who do not have the pass will not be able to claim the £1 discounted fare.

The Tiger bus pass can be used with nearly all operators throughout the entire combined authority region of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, including Stagecoach, Whippet, Dews, A2B, Stephensons, FACT, Star Travel, and First.

The only bus operators currently not participating in the scheme are Vectare and Delaine.

The £1 fare was announced earlier in the year and the Tiger brand represents the first phase of a package of improvements to the bus network by the Combined Authority, which oversees transport across the region.

That first phase also includes the 30 new or improved bus routes announced earlier this month, with the upgrades informed by suggestions made by residents who took part in the Combined Authority bus survey in December. Further bus improvements linked to the new Tiger brand will be announced in the summer. Other improvements include a review of bus stops to see where renovations are needed and the introduction of electric buses to some of the region’s fleet.

Apply at shorturl.at/k6R1L.