The UK’s first citywide independent currency—the Bristol pound—recently celebrated its first birthday, and it is now being accepted on bus trips starting and ending in the city of Bristol.
The Bristol pound was introduced to the Bristol community over a year ago, and since its launch over £260,000 have been converted from British sterling pounds to Bristol pounds. FirstGroup, a large transport company in the UK, has recently agreed to start allowing passengers to use Bristol pounds to pay for their bus rides, reported The Guardian. The initiative aims to encourage the support of local merchants and the local economy while also pushing consumers to be more environmentally friendly by taking public transportation.
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FirstGroup, which includes over 500 buses in the southwest of England, will also allow commuters to purchase bus passes at the station via electronic payments using their Bristol pound accounts. The company reported that bus drivers would accept Bristol bank notes, and although it will try to give back change in the local currency, customers will most likely receive British pound sterling.
The transport company also revealed that it would contribute all of the received Bristol notes towards local services it used through business rates. Additionally, The Guardian reported that FirstGroup hinted it may begin accepting the local currency in its cafeterias, and it even claimed to pay employees in Bristol pounds upon request.
“We want the Bristol pound to be used in everyday transactions by everyone in Bristol, because Bristol pounds stick to Bristol, supporting local businesses and building community connections to create a fairer, stronger, happier local economy,” said Ciaran Mundy, the Bristol pound director said to The Guardian.
“At the same time increasing our use of public transport and reducing dependence on private cars is also vital for improving air quality and tackling climate change. We are very happy to work with First to encourage everyone in Bristol to use Bristol pounds and to get out of our cars and on the bus.”
At present, Bristol pound officials are meeting with FirstGroup’s bus drivers and staff members to educate them on how the currency operates and how they can detect fake currency.
To read the full story at The Guardian, click here.
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