World Car Free Day
Free Bus Travel across West Berkshire on World Car Free Day

Thursday 22 September 2022 is World Car Free Day which encourages motorists to give up their cars for a day and think about using more sustainable transport for everyday journeys.
To encourage and show our support for having a day with less motor traffic on the roads, we will be offering free bus travel across West Berkshire all day on 22 September - giving more reason to leave the car at home.
Following on from the popularity of the previous free bus travel initiatives we had last Christmas, over Easter, and for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, we have again worked in partnership with Reading Buses, Newbury & District, Thames Travel, Stagecoach, Going Forward Buses and Horseman Coaches to offer free travel on these operators' services for World Car Free Day. Operators will also allow passengers to return from places further afield free of charge for the first time and Concessionary Bus Passes will still be accepted on the day.
There are no time restrictions as travel for the day will be available to Newbury, Thatcham, Reading, Basingstoke and Swindon. A great reason for us all to do our part for World Car Free Day and use the bus to get to work, college, school, go out for a day trip, go shopping, or even to meet family or friends for a bite to eat.
Cllr Richard Somner, Executive Member for Planning, Transport and Countryside at West Berkshire Council, said:
"We are really pleased to be working with our bus service partners to again provide free bus travel for our residents across West Berkshire on World Car Free Day.
"From an environmental perspective, using the bus is a great way to reduce our carbon footprint and do our bit for the planet. For those who don't use public transport, this is the perfect time to use the bus, walk, cycle or take the train and leave the car at home to try an alternative mode of transport, if you can."
Further information can be found on our transport page of the website.
The full list of routes is as follows:
Services that operate entirely within West Berkshire:
Route Number | Operator | Destination |
1a/1c | Newbury & District | Newbury to Thatcham |
2 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Wash Common/Tesco |
3 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Hungerford |
4 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Lambourn |
5/5a/5c | WBC Connect | Newbury to Downlands Villages |
6/6a | Newbury & District | Newbury to East/West Ilsley |
8 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Tesco, Greenham and Pigeons Farm |
9 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Racecourse |
41 | WBC Connect | Theale to Thatcham/Newbury |
The following routes will offer free bus travel in West Berkshire, whatever the destination and will offer return travel back to West Berkshire:
Route | Operator | Destination |
The LINK | Stagecoach South | Newbury to Basingstoke |
Jet Black 1 | Reading Buses | Newbury to Reading |
Lime 2/2a | Reading Buses | Mortimer/Burghfield to Reading |
7/7a | Stagecoach South | Andover/Burghclere to Newbury |
Sky Blue 15 | Reading Buses | Theale/Calcot to Reading |
Sky Blue 16 | Reading Buses | Purley on Thames to Reading |
Yellow 26 | Reading Buses | Calcot to Reading |
Royal Blue 33 | Reading Buses | Turnham's Farm to Reading |
44 | WBC Connect | Beenham to Thatcham via Tadley |
46a/48a/X46 | Stagecoach West | Hungerford to Swindon |
47 | WBC Connect | Lambourn to Swindon |
103/103a/103b | Newbury & District | Newbury to Greenham Business Park |
133 | Going Forward Buses | Goring to Wallingford via Streatley |
143 | Thames Travel | Upper Basildon to Reading |
154 | Horseman Coaches | Beech Hill to Reading |
Free Bus Travel will not be offered on the Hungerford to Marlborough service.