City gets on board for Better Transport Week

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is marking Better Transport Week 2026 (June 15 -21) by encouraging residents to rediscover their local bus service and experience just how ‘smart’ bus travel across the city has become.

Organised by Campaign for Better Transport, the annual event underlines the importance of affordable, accessible and reliable travel options.

This year, the council is highlighting the Smart tickets scheme, which continues to offer cheaper, simpler bus travel across multiple operators with one great-value ticket, making public transport more accessible for work, education and shopping.

Councillor Finlay Gordon McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure, planning and regeneration, at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:

“The speed and scale of progress of the bus network across the city has been impressive – and our Smart tickets, which we’ve extended to March 2029, have played a huge role in that.

“However, there are many people who perhaps haven’t used a bus in a long while, and I think they would be surprised by how much has changed.

“Affordable, simple fares make a real difference to people’s daily lives. Whether you’re travelling for work, education, to a health appointment, out shopping, or just meeting family or friends, a Smart ticket means you don’t need to search for cash or worry about providing the exact change. They are so much quicker, easier and cheaper.

“From booking tickets in advance on a mobile app, to receiving live updates from over 100 Real Time Information displays across the city, today’s bus network offers an all-round faster and more reliable experience for passengers. 

“Even before boarding their bus, many people will see improvements to bus stations and stops with waiting areas increasingly more accessible for wheelchair or pram users. Similarly, we’ve upgraded over 200 bus stops with CCTV in place at many which, along with our team of Transport Safety Officers, adds to passenger safety and security.

“Therefore, to those who haven’t been on a bus in a while, I would say, use Better Transport Week to ‘give it another go’. 

“And there are more improvements in the pipeline as we look to deliver the bus network that the city deserves.”

Stoke-on-Trent’s bus service experience continues to improve at pace, and the council continues its work to keep the city moving outside of standard business hours by subsiding many important evening, early morning and Sunday bus links on a daily basis.

At the same time, both the council and transport operators remain committed to building on the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan and March’s unprecedented £105 million transport settlement.

Of that settlement:

• £14 million has been allocated to continue the Smart ticket scheme up to March 2029
• More than £7m has been ringfenced for investment in upgrading bus stops, shelters, Real Time Information and CCTV, improved walking routes and access to the bus network over the next four years
• £10m will go towards electric buses
• Funding to road improvements will be boosted to combat congestion and help buses and traffic move more reliably.

Ben Plowden from Campaign for Better Transport said:

“Good public transport networks, shared travel, walking/wheeling and cycling help connect us to the people we love, the things we need and the places that matter. That’s why we are delighted to have Stoke-on-Trent City Council take part in Better Transport Week 2026 to help celebrate the connections that count.”