Bite + To Give Cheap Bus Fares

11 February 2010, 00:00

A new card giving young people half price fares on bus journeys is to be piloted in Colchester.

Children and young people who live within the Colchester Borough are to benefit from Essex County Council’s new bite+ scheme, a discount card offering cheaper bus travel.

Bite+, which will go live on the 1st April, is a card for those aged between 5 and 19 (inclusive), which entitles the bearer to half price adult fares on bus journeys starting and finishing within the county. The bite+ card can be used for school, work or leisure and the discounted fares will be available seven days a week, offering cheaper fares even at peak travel times.

Along with travel discounts, bite+ can also be used as a proof of age and a library card.

County Councillor Norman Hume, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation said: “Young people identified one of the barriers to using public transport as the cost and, by introducing this scheme we will make it cheaper for them to use. This means that whether young people are travelling to school, college or work, or they are using the bus during their leisure time, they’ll benefit from cheaper fares all the time.”

Applying for the card is free, but those eligible will need to fill in an application form, which can be requested by calling 0845 603 7626 or collecting one from local libraries, schools or Connexions centres.