Free bus travel to return across Portsmouth for Clean Air Day

Residents in Portsmouth will be able to travel by bus free of charge on 18 June as part of this year’s Clean Air Day campaign, with the initiative designed to encourage more people to choose public transport and help improve air quality across the city.

The offer has been arranged through Portsmouth City Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan in partnership with local operators First Solent and Stagecoach. Free travel will be available on all bus services that begin within Portsmouth’s boundary, including the Pompey Link route.

The scheme aims to encourage residents to leave their cars at home and experience the convenience of travelling by bus for everyday journeys such as commuting, shopping and the school run.

Clean Air Day is the UK’s largest campaign focused on tackling air pollution and raising awareness of the impact that transport emissions can have on both public health and the environment. Organisers hope that providing free travel will encourage more people to make sustainable transport choices and reduce the number of vehicle journeys on the city’s roads.

The initiative comes as bus use in Portsmouth continues to grow. Passenger numbers have increased by more than 50% over the past three years, with the city now recording more than one million bus journeys every month.

Significant investment has also been made in modernising the local bus fleet. More than a quarter of buses operating in Portsmouth are now electric, with 62 zero-emission vehicles currently in service. The council is aiming for a fully electric fleet by 2030, supported by plans to electrify depots at Hoeford, Hilsea and Farlington by 2027.

Councillor Peter Candlish, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said:

“It’s fantastic to see more and more people choosing to travel by bus in Portsmouth.

“We’ve made many significant improvements to bus travel recently through our Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan, including introducing smooth, new electric buses. Put together, these changes are making bus travel a more convenient and attractive option, helping to improve air quality while keeping the city moving better.

“I’d encourage everyone to take advantage of the free travel on 18 June and see how easy it is to make the bus part of your everyday journeys.”

Peter Matthews, Head of Commercial at First Bus South, said:

“We’re encouraging everyone to take advantage of free bus travel on Clean Air Day and discover just how easy and convenient travelling by bus can be. Improved services, more frequent routes, accessible vehicles and the introduction of electric buses mean there’s never been a better time to give the bus a try. Whether you’re travelling to work, school or across the city, we hope residents will take this opportunity to experience the benefits for themselves.”

Stagecoach South Managing Director Marc Reddy added:

“We’re delighted to be working with Portsmouth City Council to support Clean Air Day by offering free bus travel across the city on 18 June. This initiative gives residents the perfect opportunity to experience the convenience, affordability and environmental benefits of travelling by bus.

Every journey made by bus instead of car helps reduce congestion and improve air quality, and we’re proud to play our part in supporting a cleaner, healthier Portsmouth. With growing passenger numbers and continued investment in cleaner, more sustainable vehicles, we’re seeing more people choose the bus for their everyday journeys. We encourage everyone to take advantage of the free travel offer and discover how easy it is to leave the car at home.”

The free travel initiative forms part of wider efforts to promote sustainable transport and reduce emissions, while giving residents an opportunity to experience the benefits of the city's expanding and increasingly environmentally friendly bus network.