It was a whistle-stop tour in the city I’ve called home for eight years
It’s a free way to travel around the city (Image: Manchester Evening News)
“I absolutely love it. I use it all the time,” Beverly Doyle says, a haul of shopping bags in hand, as she leans over from her seat behind me.
I have lived in Manchester for eight years, but this is my first time catching one of the free bus services that laps around the city centre.
I have known about it for as long as I can remember, but wrongly assumed it was one of those novelties that nobody ever really uses, apart from the odd tourist trying to get from A to B or to do some sightseeing.
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Catching the tram for most of my journeys into the city centre, I am used to hearing the voice over the tannoy at Shudehill telling passengers it’s the stop to get off at for one of the ‘free buses around the city centre’.
The free bus stops outside Piccadilly Station – which are temporarily out of use(Image: Manchester Evening News)
But with regular Metrolink services running to various stops dotted around, including major through routes like Victoria, Piccadilly and Market Street, I had never felt the need to use the bus, nor have I ever really noticed seeing them trundling around.
I am also able and fit, so would usually opt to walk if I was heading from one end of the city centre to the other (or jump in an overpriced Uber in the rain).
But for the first time in eight years, I decided to give it a go. Usually, the services both operate via dedicated bus stops along Station Approach, outside Piccadilly station, but are currently running temporarily from nearby Fairfield Street.
I caught the free bus for the first time (Image: Manchester Evening News)
Arriving at the bus stop, I had just missed the 1 service, which arrive every ten minutes between 7am and 7pm, travelling from Piccadilly, to the Gay Village, Oxford Road, Castlefield, Spinningfields and Chinatown.
I was instantly surprised how busy the stop was. A steady stream of people, some clearly on their way back from work, others tugging suitcases behind them, arrived to catch the bus almost as soon as another had pulled away.
It was 2pm on a Thursday afternoon. “This really must be popular,” I uttered to our photographer Kenny.
Sure enough, it only took a few minutes for the next bus to appear. This time it was the number 2 service, which runs through Chinatown, Cross Street, Market Street, Victoria, Shudehill and the Northern Quarter.
There are two different routes(Image: Manchester Evening News)
I waltzed on and sat down, which felt utterly alien having not needed to tap my card to pay for the journey. It quickly filled up and we were rapidly on our way.
The bus driver even closed the door on our photographer and prevented him from making an escape when he simply boarded to ask if he could take a photo. It was clear he wanted to leave on time and keep the network running like clockwork.
I leaned across to speak to a student, who was sat on one of the two seats beside me. “We get it all the time,” he said.
The free bus services operate every ten minutes during the day in the week (Image: Manchester Evening News)
“All students know about it, and it’s free, so cheaper than a taxi or the tram. It’s great when you come back from home with bags of stuff too, because you don’t have to walk across town with it.”
Another lady, who asked to remain anonymous, chimed into the conversation. “I had known about the free bus for years but never caught it – but once I realised it was decent, I catch it all the time now,” she said.
“It’s great for people to get around and is quick. Once you know, you do end up getting it. There’s a mix of people who live in Manchester and also tourists who are getting around or exploring.”
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The zero-fare services were first introduced as the Metroshuttle in Manchester city centre in 2002, with three routes linking the city’s major thoroughfares and stations with its main districts.
Due to its initial success, the first two initial routes were extended to a total of three, linking to additional areas in the city centre. In 2018, due to declining passenger numbers, the service was again reduced back to two routes. It is run by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the city council.
But for just after midday on a Thursday, I was stunned by how busy the service actually was. People from all walks of life, city workers, shoppers with heavy bags in tow, people with mobility issues and tourists dragging their luggage all hopped on and off again at their convenience.
I got the free bus in Manchester city centre (Image: Manchester Evening News)
As my service pulled up outside M&S, at the bottom of Market Street, Beverly Doyle from Droylsden got on with her husband carrying a number of bags.
“We’ve been using it for years,” she explained. “I absolutely love it. My husband doesn’t really, and would prefer to walk, but it’s so convenient.
“Our tram has stopped running through Piccadilly Gardens because of the work going on, so we catch it when we are done with the shopping back to Piccadilly Station to get the tram home.
The free bus services are facilitated by the council and TfGM(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“It stops straight outside Marks’. It was amazing when you could get off right outside the station. It’s always on time and usually pretty full. Especially in the mornings or after work.
“It isn’t always the fastest because of city centre traffic. There have been times I’ve been stuck on it for an hour, but it’s great for when you’ve got all of your bags, and it doesn’t cost anything.”
The journey then took us to Victoria station, where a number of other customers boarded, and then Shudehill. The 24-capacity bus was almost full with 17 people on board.
The services were busy and popular(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Alison Edwards, from Yorkshire, said she uses the bus every time she travels to Manchester from her home near Sheffield and ‘loves it’.
“At least twice a month I catch it from Piccadilly and then round to Marks and Spencer for shopping,” she said. “I love it. It’s great for me.
“It’s much cheaper than an Uber, because it’s free, and it’s just really convenient. It’s always on time and there’s the other route as well to get around.”
When asked if Sheffield has the same free bus service, she added: “I don’t know actually. But it should. Every city should.”
Arriving back at Piccadilly, I felt a bit like a tourist in a city I’ve called home for eight years. It gave me a quick whistle-stop tour of the northern part of the city centre in just 25 minutes.
And it was evident that, despite the services being frequent at 10 minute intervals during the day, there is an obvious demand for them. They were packed full of people getting from A to B, all without having to fork out a penny for it.
In all honesty, I left pleasantly surprised. With the overhaul of bus services to the Bee Network and tap in, tap out option across buses and trams, Andy Burnham is trying to keep Manchester as a metro city on the move, despite its flaws or regular delays.
But the free bus was quick, convenient and on time. I felt like a fool for having ever doubted it, and I may even consider hopping on next time I make the journey into town.