Brighton & Hove and Metrobus supported international ‘Purple Tuesday’ on 2 November by offering all disabled concessionary cardholders free travel for a ‘plus one’ of their choice. Purple Tuesday aims to promote improving customer experience for disabled people by thinking about their needs year-round, not just on one day of the year, whether that is when catching public transport, visiting an art gallery, or going out for dinner.
The ‘purple pound,’ which refers to the spending power of disabled people and their families, is estimated to be worth £274 billion per year in the UK, and estimates suggest that it is rising by 14% every year in the UK alone, yet less than 10% of organisations are thought to have a plan to harness this spending power by improving disabled people’s experiences as customers.
Brighton & Hove and Metrobus’ Managing Director Martin Harris said: “We’re pleased to support Purple Tuesday and to partner with Possability People. We hope as many people as possible take advantage of this ‘plus one’ travel offer and find out how easy it is to catch our buses, whether that’s for a day out at the Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells, visiting family and friends in Crawley, or shopping at Churchill Square.
“We work with disabled people and local groups when we design our services and put out travel information, so our buses are as accessible as we can make them. Everybody deserves to feel relaxed and confident while they travel and to have the best customer experience possible.” Martin said the Purple Tuesday offer applied to travel anywhere on the Brighton and Hove or Metrobus network and that those who already have a plus one entitlement on their concessionary travel card will be allowed two people travelling with them free on Purple Tuesday.
Geraldine Des Moulins, Chief Executive of Possability People said: “Purple Tuesday presents an opportunity for businesses and services to welcome disabled people and understand that being accessible doesn’t have to be daunting or expensive. Brighton & Hove buses are a great example of what can be achieved. We’re lucky to have such a responsible bus service in Brighton & Hove, committed to making bus travel as accessible possible. We hope disabled people will take up the purple plus one offer.”
