West of England 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 Dan Norris, metro mayor of the West of England, as a way to encourage more people to travel by bus. People living in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, 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. The controversial scheme has now been criticised by opposition politicians, after the delays to its launch.
