A thousand free bus tickets snapped up in one day through ‘secret billboard’

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has given away up to 1,000 free four-week bus tickets to people who followed social media clues to a unique billboard advert.

The billboard, which says ‘Stop, grab a bus ticket and see where it takes you’ was unveiled by Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands in Digbeth on Monday (30 September).

Hundreds of people, mostly students, flocked to the site to tear off a ‘ticket’ revealing a QR code to claim their free Swift travel pass. The offer was snapped up within a few hours.

The ‘You’re Bussing It’ campaign is the latest initiative in the region’s Government funded Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). Over the last two years it has delivered a range of measures including more transport safety officers out on patrol, simple and more convenient bus ticketing and better real time travel information.

The free tickets were delivered through the incentives scheme, funded by BSIP, which has already enabled 800,000 journeys across the West Midlands. Those who missed out on this latest offer may still be eligible to claim a free bus travel trial through their employer or selected organisations.

Trips by bus account for around 80% of all public transport journeys in the West Midlands – but increasing usage is a crucial part of plans to get more people to leave their cars at home and reduce traffic congestion, and pollution, in our towns and cities.

Through the campaign TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), is also supporting bus operators to keep fares among the lowest in the country and services running during a challenging time for the industry which has been hit with rising costs.

 

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “Buses are the backbone of our public transport network and central to my plans to connecting communities across the region to essential services. 

“The more we use our buses, the better they are which is why I want to encourage as many people as possible to make buses part of their everyday journey.

“This initiative has helped around 1,000 students see how they can make their journeys greener and easier - and will hopefully start a habit for life.”

For full information on bus services, fares and timetables visit the TfWM website.