Free bus journeys during Green Transport Week

Date published: 23/05/2006

People across Greater Manchester are being offered the chance to travel by bus for free during next month’s Green Transport Week.

5,000 bus daysaver tickets are available on a first-come first-served basis and uptake is expected to be high as they allow passengers to make journeys throughout the day – including at peak times.

Anyone wanting to get their hands on a ticket can apply by visiting GMPTE’s website at www.gmpte.com/green from Wednesday 24 May. Applications can also be made by post by sending your name and address to Green Transport Week, GMPTE, 9 Portland Street, Manchester M60 1HX. All applications must be received by Friday 2 June.

Successful applicants will be able to choose which day during Green Transport Week (10–18 June) they travel for free.

Chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, Councillor Roger Jones, said: "We know that journeys made by private cars create pollution and congestion. Encouraging people to make some trips by public transport can contribute to improving air quality and reducing congestion.

"We want more people to consider public transport at as a realistic alternative and we feel that the best way to persuade people to try it is by offering services for free. I would like to thank the bus operators for providing these System One tickets.

"We hope offering the tickets will raise awareness, make more people think about their future journeys and highlight public transport as an environmentally-friendly alternative."

GMPTE has also produced a "Places to Go’ events calendar for June which includes details of some of the local events happening during Green Transport Week. There are hundreds of events throughout the month that can be reached by public transport.

The calendar is available at www.gmpte.com/green and at GMPTE Travelshops, local libraries, major hospitals, train stations and community centres.

Green Transport Week, arranged by the Environmental Transport Agency, is a week of events all over Britain aiming to raise awareness of the impact transport has on the environment.