Since their introduction in September 2008, the three, low-floor vehicles have made almost 24,000 complete journeys around the city centre and on Thursday 12 or Friday 13 November and has now clocked up passenger number 1,000,000.
"Introduced after the success of our similar services in Leeds, Huddersfield and Wakefield, Bradford FreeCityBus has exceeded all expectations,” said Metro Chairman Cllr Ryk Downes.
“By making it easier for people with mobility problems, buggies or small children to get around, Metro’s FreeBus services have been shown in surveys to increase numbers of shopping trips, which supports the local economy,” he continued.
“And users tell us the services give them the confidence to leave their cars at home and use connecting trains and buses instead, so one million passengers represents a lot of car journeys saved and a significant contribution to reducing local carbon footprints.“
Passengers on board Bradford's FreeCityBus today praised the service, describing it as "wonderful", "great for the elderly", "easier than driving to the University" and "ideal for shopping".
Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's Executive Member for the Environment said: "The Free City Bus has been a huge success with far more people using it than we had expected. Not only has it made it easier for people to get around the city centre it has also reduced the number of car journeys. It is no surprise that this week will see its millionth passenger."
Sponsored by Bradford College, Sovereign Healthcare and the University of Bradford, Bradford FreeCityBus services run every ten minutes from 7.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday and from 8.30am to 5.30pm on Saturdays. The three-mile route links key locations around the city centre including Bradford Interchange and Forster Square Rail Station and Shopping Park, the Oastler Centre, Kirkgate Shopping Centre, Centenary Square, City Hall, the National Media Museum, Bradford College and the University of Bradford.
Since the start of the first service in January 2006, Metro's FreeBuses in Leeds, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Bradford have carried over 9 million passengers between them.
The latest service is due to start in Dewsbury in December 2009.
