Three days to go until £2 Mayor's Fares are launched across the region

1 September 2022

There are just three days to go until West Yorkshire residents can travel for less thanks to the introduction of “Mayor’s Fares” across the region, as West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin helps ease the cost-of-living crisis.

From Sunday 4 September, people will pay no more than £2 for any single bus journey in West Yorkshire – providing savings of as much as £1.50 on some trips. This will significantly cut the cost of travel for people making journeys over 3 miles, which operators charge at a higher price.

In addition, passengers will be able to make unlimited journeys for £4.50 per day with a DaySaver ticket through the MCard App. This represents a saving of almost 20% on the current price. Those travelling every day could save up to £500 over the course of a year.

Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“We are making bus travel simpler and cheaper through the Mayor’s Fares.

“You can hop on a bus from Huddersfield to Halifax, or Bradford to Bingley, and know that you won’t have to pay more than £2 for your trip.

“As our communities face a crippling cost-of-living crisis, we’re determined to do what we can to help ease the burden.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford City Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:

“The cost-of-living crisis demands bold action. So, this is an ambitious plan for urgent times from the Mayor and West Yorkshire leaders.

“It provides an immediate saving for regular bus passengers and simplifies fares for people who may be thinking of taking the bus for the first time.

“Getting people back on our buses will help with our economic recovery, and we will do all we can with the funding available to improve services.”

Richard Armitage, Chair of West Yorkshire Ticketing Company Limited which manages MCard, said:

“I’m thrilled to be able to tell you there’s £1 off the MCard DaySaver bus ticket. It is such good news! Given everything else that’s happening, the funding and political support for our local buses is very welcome indeed. 

“It’s enabled bus operators in West Yorkshire to work alongside the Combined Authority and the Mayor to agree several price cuts to our multi-operator MCard bus tickets. We look forward to former, current and new customers travelling more on the bus.”

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire’s bus operators said:

“These fares complement a range of value products already available from operators and we are pleased to have played our part in supporting the Mayor and the Combined Authority to introduce the new prices.

“We hope this added choice for customers will encourage more people to discover the great value in bus travel. This will help us to grow passenger numbers and so reduce traffic congestion in towns and cities across the region.”

The Mayor’s Fares are funded for three years as part of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, and being delivered through an Enhanced Partnership with local bus operators.