RESIDENTS promised free bus travel during their birthday month have been unable to apply for passes shortly before the new scheme starts.
The website for passengers to apply for a birthday bus pass is still not live, delaying the start of the scheme.
The £8 million plan was announced in May by Metro Mayor Dan Norris as a way to encourage more people to travel by bus.
People living in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset will be able to apply for a pass online.
But without a functioning website, nobody can currently apply to get a pass and benefit from the free travel.
Delays to the launch of the year-long £8 million scheme are due to the government, according to the metro mayor.
Delays to the launch of the year-long £8 million scheme are due to the government, according to the metro mayor.
Mr Norris said: “We are still awaiting government sign-off to release the money for the scheme. Department for Transport officials have indicated that they do not require any further information.
“I hope we can get a speedy resolution so the scheme can launch and you can enjoy free travel during this cost-of-living crisis, reduce pollution, tackle congestion, and crucially we can begin the process of gathering data and encouraging behaviour change, which is what birthday buses is all about.”
Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service