MORE than 11,000 youngsters across Barnsley now have their MiCards after a scheme for free bus travel officially launched last Friday.

Young people will be able to access free bus travel from Monday to Sunday, between 7am and 9pm, as long as the journey starts or ends in the Barnsley area and is within South Yorkshire.

The pilot in Barnsley will run for two years thanks to the council’s £5m investment, alongside an additional £1m in funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

A total of 8,768 current holders of Zoom travel passes have received their brand-new Barnsley Mi Card earlier this summer.

Applications for everyone else have launched in early July and since then, there’s been more than 2,600 applications, bringing the total number of Barnsley MiCard travel pass holders to nearly 11,400 across the borough.

Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: “We are excited to be able to invest and bring back the Barnsley Mi Card, providing free bus travel for children and young people across our borough.

“This initiative is a significant step towards improving accessibility and mobility for our younger residents, ensuring they can travel easily and affordably.

“We are committed to creating great childhoods in Barnsley and believe this scheme will have a positive impact on their daily lives, helping them access education, leisure activities, and other essential services.”