Cheaper bus fares are now available on bus routes in the Yorkshire Dales to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
The Friends of the Dales, who are an environmental campaign charity, have welcomed the new £2 single fare price-cap across the bus network Dales Bus.
The Government’s £2 fair caps scheme which runs until March 31 aims to help passengers save money this winter.
Paul Chattwood, volunteer finance director of DalesBus, said: “The £2 single fare is a great offer and we are hoping it will tempt the uninitiated to try public transport as a new means of getting into and around the Dales.”
There are many bus routes that are to benefit from this scheme, for example the Wensleydale Flyer service 856, which has three return journeys every Sunday linking Northallerton, Bedale, Leyburn, Aysgarth and Hawes.
Tickets for these bus routes were costing up to £11 but up until March 31, a return fare will be £2 each way, giving more people access to these areas of natural beauty.
Mr Chattwood said: “DalesBus weekend services aren’t supported by North Yorkshire County Council’s transport budget which means we need to raise around £150K every year to fund our Sunday and bank holiday services.
“Without the hard work of volunteers in securing sponsorship and grants and the generosity of donors like Friends of the Dales, these services would not exist.”
Friends of the Dales have been campaigning for over 15 years for bus travel to be subsidised as it is a sustainable mode of transport and allows people from all backgrounds to enjoy the area that they live in.
Ann Shadrake, executive director of the charity, added: “Whilst we welcome this short term subsidy from the Government, long term funding is what is really required to secure the future of these routes and encourage more people to use them and trust them.”
