What is Catch the Bus Month?
Organised by Bus Users UK, Catch the Bus Month runs during September 2023. The month-long campaign promotes bus travel as a healthy, inclusive and sustainable way to travel and encourages all to make use of their local bus services.
Bus Users, the people behind the event is a charity that campaigns for inclusive and accessible transport. They are also part of a Sustainable Transport Alliance, which is a group working to promote the benefits of public, shared and active travel.
Did you know…
- Pre-pandemic, on average, around 50 bus trips were made per person, per year.
- Of all public transport journeys, 60% are made by bus!
- Bus operators have invested £2 billion over the last 5 years into new cleaner and greener buses.
- In the UK, 55% of greenhouse gas emissions are from cars and just 3% from buses.
- On average, bus passengers undertake at least 20 minutes of exercise per day as part of their journey.
So, why should you get on board this September?
Environmental benefits – Firstly, it’s better for the environment compared to driving. Buses emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions per passenger compared to private cars – making them an eco-friendlier option.
Fed up with traffic jams? – Well, the more cars on the road, the worse the traffic jams are likely to be. Buses can take advantage of bus lanes in many locations across the country, allowing for quicker journey times. Also, did you know that a fully loaded double-decker bus can take 75 cars off the road too!
Cars are expensive – It’s not just the cost of fuel you need to worry about, but also insurance and maintenance too. Bus travel could be much cheaper for you – especially with the current £2 cap on single fares!
Less stress – No one wants to arrive to work feeling stressed, so why not catch the bus and use that time to relax, read a book or catch up on some emails?
Get fitter! – It might be easier to fit some physical activity into the day. Yes, catching the bus can be healthier! Rather than stepping outside and straight into your car, you’ll probably have a short walk to the nearest bus stop. This could help you hit those magic 10,000 steps per day!
Save some money – Currently, across England, local single bus fares are capped at £2 per journey. The scheme is designed to allow more people to make local journeys by bus, in an affordable way. It also aims to reduce carbon emissions. So surely now is the best time to try the bus?!
To find out more about bus services to and from Great Park, head over to our public transport section.