HOPPING on a bus has become a staple of our recent UK trips, thanks to the £2 fare cap that's in place until the end of the year. It's saved me a fortune in petrol and parking and it's inspired adventures that we never would have taken, had they not been along a bus route. I'm used to driving my boys aged 11, nine and four here, there and everywhere on days out, both close to home and further afield.
But now I always check if there's a bus that can get us where we want to go, as I'd rather leave the car at home if possible. The boys and I have been on buses along Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, up the Norfolk coast and to a Leicestershire landmark recently and we probably wouldn't have done any of those trips if the £2 cap hadn't been extended to the end of the year. Knowing more or less what fare I'm going to pay for us all makes a huge difference to whether I'd get the bus for a day out.
Before, I had no idea how much tickets would be and the uncertainty was enough to put me off bothering to take public transport. Now I know that each trip will probably cost about the same as paying out for car parking, it's a no-brainer to jump on the bus wherever it's a possibility. Having that option meant we could walk along Hadrian's Wall from Yha The Sill to Housesteads Roman fort, safe in the knowledge that we could easily get back to our starting point by bus.
The quick bus trip back cost £4, the same as up to three hours’ parking at Housesteads, as my fare was £2 and it was.
