Catch the Bus Week ran from 1-7 July and saw operators from across the country take part in celebrations, promoting the bus as a sustainable travel option and a way to connect the community.
Operators across the UK offered discounted travel and ran competitions
Reading Buses
As part of Reading Buses’ celebrations, the operator offered five people the chance to win free bus travel, with a 7-day ticket or an easysaver 10. Passengers had to find the hidden word of the week on the operator’s bus screens, and once found get in touch with Reading Buses via social media.
Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer, Robert Williams, said: “Catch the Bus Week really is an important initiative that encourages people to think about how they travel and to consider giving the bus a try.
“By running our on-board competition, we hope to encourage people out of their cars – this will also be supported on our social media channels with information about why bus is best.”
Stagecoach
Stagecoach East Midlands utilised Catch the Bus Week to highlight the bus’ ability combat loneliness, after Greener Journey’s recent survey found that 33% of people deliberately catch the bus to have some human contact.
Stagecoach supported the week by celebrating the work of its community bus ‘Hattie’ which helps connect communities by travelling across the region reaching out to people and providing them the time to talk, enjoy tea and coffee, games, and a Wendy house. Hattie is part of Stagecoach East Midlands’ ‘Time to Talk’ pledge to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing.
Arriva
Arriva Midlands supported the initiative by offering special CTBW Day tickets for £1 on its mobile m-ticket app throughout the course of the week. With every special ticket sold, 10p was donated to Mind, a mental health charity.
Go North East
As part of the nationwide campaign, Go North East also offered passengers a series of competitions and offers through its social media platforms.
Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director at Go North East, said: “Buses play a vital role in connecting our communities, improving air quality and helping reduce congestion, with one fully loaded double-decker capable of taking up to 75 cars out of traffic jams.
“With great features including contactless payments plus free WiFi and USB charging points on many of our buses, as well as the environmental and active health benefits of bus travel, there’s never been a better time to get on board.”
Transdev
As part of Catch the Bus Week, Transdev planned a week of fun which commenced on Monday 1 July.
This included free ticket giveaways, reductions on tickets, and ‘bus butlers’ serving free goodies to lucky customers.
Traveline Cymru
Traveline Cymru urged people to catch the bus over the course of last week, incentivising travel by holding a ‘selfie’ competition on buses. The competition required passengers to take a ‘selfie’ of them on the bus and send it via email to the operator or post it on one of its social media platforms, to be entered into a prize draw to win a hamper full of sustainable, zero-waste, treats donated by Cardiff-based ‘Viva-Organic’.
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