Free travel pilot scheme for young people approved

Children and young people who live in Sheffield will get free bus and tram travel across South Yorkshire after a pilot scheme was voted through by councillors.

Sheffield City Council’s strategy and resources committee approved a 29-week scheme for people aged five to 18.

The trial will run from 15 February 2027 and is expected to cost £7.6m.

Council leader Fran Belbin said it would help families with the cost of living and give thousands of young people greater independence.

“The cost of a bus or tram journey should never be what stops a young person getting to college, taking up an apprenticeship, joining a sports club or simply spending time with friends,” she said.

Belbin revealed the pilot has deliberately been timed to run until September 2027, when a separate scheme run by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard will provide region-wide free travel scheme for the same age group.

The pilot has been developed with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, drawing on experience from Barnsley’s MiCard scheme, which saw passenger numbers increase particularly in some of the most deprived areas.

Eligible children and young people will use a dedicated smartcard and usage, journey patterns, the cost and impact on the transport network will be monitored so the success of the pilot can be assessed.