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Summer by Bus FAQs

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Free bus travel for children aged 5-15

How do children get free travel?

  • Children aged 5-15 can travel for free on selected bus services in August thanks to the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme. This includes all  Leicestershire County Council supported bus services, our on-demand transport service FoxConnect and other bus services across Leicestershire, subject to operator participation. Simply board the bus and the driver will issue a ticket showing a fare of £0.

 

Would my child or children need an adult with them?

  • Yes in some cases. Children under the age of 11 must travel with someone aged 16 or older on Arriva, Centrebus, CT4N, Kinchbus and NCT services.
  • Please refer to individual operators’ websites here for further information and tips for travelling safely. Many operators’ buses can be tracked using the operator website or app, and you also may wish to use the location-sharing features that are available on mobile devices. 

 

Will my child need proof of age?

  • Due to safeguarding, a driver may ask questions if they are unsure about a child’s age in order to keep young passengers safe while travelling. Parents and carers are responsible for ensuring that their child can provide suitable proof of age if requested. This could be a clear photograph of a passport or other official identification stored on a mobile phone which ensures a smooth and safe travel experience for everyone involved.

 

Which bus services are included in the scheme?

  • Free travel for children aged 5-15 will be available on the following operators’ services in Leicestershire: 
  • Arriva (except TZ1, TZ2, TZ3), Blands, Central Connect, Centrebus, CT4N, Diamond Bus, First Bus Leicester, Kinchbus, NCT, Stagecoach.

 

What if my child is under 5?

  • Children under 5 can travel free of charge on most buses when accompanied by a fare-paying passenger or someone with a valid concessionary bus pass. No ticket is usually required, but children must remain with the accompanying adult throughout the journey.

 

 

£1 fares for over 16s on all Leicestershire County Council supported bus services

Which bus services are included?

  • The £1 single bus fare is only available on the Leicestershire County Council supported bus services listed here. It is not available on commercially operated services.

 

How far can I travel for £1?

  • You will be able to travel the full length of a route on a single journey for £1. If you are making a return journey, it will cost you a further £1.

 

How do I get the £1 fare?

  • Simply get on the bus and the driver will issue you with a ticket for the price of £1.

 

How can I pay?

  • You can pay via contactless or in cash but please note, drivers can only give change for small banknotes.

 

What if I am an older or disabled person’s bus pass holder?

  • Eligible older persons pass holders will still get free off-peak travel on local buses and disabled persons bus pass holders will still get free travel all day regardless of our summer by bus promotions.

 

What if I am under the age of 16?

  • If you are under the age of 16, you will benefit from free travel for the month of August as part of the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme.

 

 

50% off travel for FoxConnect for over 16s

What is FoxConnect?

  • FoxConnect is an on-demand local transport service, run by Leicestershire County Council which allows users to book a journey via the app or by phone to travel to familiar landmarks, services, and areas of interest.

 

When does the service operate?

  • FoxConnect is available between 6:00am (the earliest pick-up time) and 7:30pm (the latest drop off time) from Monday to Saturday. The service does not operate on Sundays or on bank/public holidays.

 

How do I get 50% off during August?

  • The discount will automatically be applied when you book a journey through the FoxConnect app or when you book through our call centre on 0116 216 7756.

 

How can I pay for a FoxConnect journey?

  • You can choose to register a debit or credit card within the FoxConnect app or you can pay via contactless card when boarding the bus. The discounted fare will be charged after your journey has been completed. Cash payment on the bus is not accepted.

 

Do children aged 5-15 travel for free?

  • Yes, under the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, children aged 5-15 can travel for free on FoxConnect during August. 

 

Do children under five travel for free?

  • Yes, provided they are accompanied by an appropriate adult and do not occupy a seat that would exclude a fare-paying passenger from travelling.

 

Can my child travel independently?

  • Passengers must be at least 13 years of age to use the FoxConnect app independently, and over 10 years of age to ride independently. Please set an account up in your child’s name and register your own bank card on their account. The card details are held securely and cannot be accessed from within the app. You cannot make a telephone booking in this scenario, as a bank card would be needed for payment on the bus as no cash is accepted. An appropriate adult will need to escort the child onto the bus and show the paid fare to the driver.