Short bus journeys in Whitehawk will be capped at £1 for three months starting on Wednesday thanks to a new council subsidy.
The promotion, called the Whitehawk Link, will allow people to take a single journey on the 1 and 21 services within the Whitehawk zone for just £1.
The trial offer is one of Brighton and Hove City Council’s new fare offers, being funded by its £1.4 million Local Authority Bus Grant for this financial year.
£1 journeys can be accessed using tap on/tap off, mobile or cash on board.
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet member for Transport and City Infrastructure, said: “This new £1 Whitehawk Link is a really positive step, making it easier and more affordable for people to get to work, GP and hospital appointments, access shops and services and stay connected.
“We know even short journeys can add up, so this will make a real difference to local families.”
Other initiatives being funded by the grand include:
- A three-month pilot starting in September giving more than 200 care leavers aged between 18 to 24 free bus travel in the city
- Up to four children under the age of 19 continue to travel for free with a fare paying adult
- The Breeze Up to the Downs services to Stanmer Park, Devil’s Dyke and Ditchling Beacon
- In‑person Travel Shop citySAVER tickets continue to match online prices
These offers are in addition to the more than £10 million the council is again spending on providing free travel for people with Older and Disabled Person’s Bus Passes, funded by surplus from council fees and charges.
The Whitehawk zone applies if you’re travelling to or from the Marina or Lidl (Arundel Road), and you get on or off:
- Route 21: between Maresfield Road and Roedean Road
- Route 1: between Arundel Road and Swanborough Drive
Editor’s note: This story originally referenced Mansfield Road, based on information provided by the council. This has now been changed to Maresfield Road.
How will Brighton & Hove City Council know these schemes are successful? What are the predefined success criteria and what metrics are being measured? Or is this just the council throwing our money (Government funds are still our taxes) to get positive publicity?
Helping people that are struggling financially is clearly not a good thing? Please elaborate.
I don’t read this as BertY saying it shouldn’t be done. But it is in everyone’s interest that council taxpayers money is used in a way that maximises the benefits.
Whenever there is a trial, or any public policy intervention, it good practice to set out what you are aiming to achieve and what metrics you will use to measure the impact. Not least so that you can show that it is actually helping those who are struggling financially. If it is, then that helps make the case for it being rolled out more widely. If it isn’t, then that suggests the Council should look at different ways to support people. Policy is best when it is made on the basis of evidence and not headlines.
Why just Whitehawk?
It’s a trial. Whitehawk is one of the most deprived areas in Brighton and deeply unequal. If it lands well, there’s a good cause to expand it out to other areas.
If it’s a shirt journey, surly it’s healthier and cheaper to walk and the .£1.4 million can go towards actual bus improvements, like bus stop shelters or sorting out that mess outside the hospital.the road is so sunk the busses look like they are about to topple into the eye hospital
Ah, but topographically speaking, it’s incredibly steep, Marina to top of Whitehawk, for example. A higher proportion of older people and those with mobility needs too compounds this point.
Don’t older people, and those with mobility problems, get concession bus passes?
Fair point! So the main beneficiaries might be more families, and those with lower incomes. Makes accessing the supermarkets easier, which in turn means more able to make healthier food choices, rather than going for the off-license?
What about extending it to Lidl etc like it was before £1.80 for a short journey is expensive,especially if you can get to seaford for £3.00.
Just the sort of thing Andy B would do
Are you sure Derek?
He literally franchised bus services, Gabe.
It is from Parking Fees and Enforcement of which The Council get over £30m a year. £1 for the Whitehawk Zone only.