Stagecoach North East joined forces with sustainable transport group Greener Journeys to promote the benefits of bus use through the fifth annual ‘Catch the Bus Week’.
The campaign aims to drive awareness of the benefits of taking the bus, encouraging local people to make the switch from the car for a week and consider leaving the car at home for some journeys in the future.
As part of the campaign, Stagecoach North East staff took to the streets of Newcastle city centre to demonstrate how passengers can make best use of their time by travelling by bus. With the average bus commuter spending six hours on board every week, they could potentially read 52 books in a year, knit 12 scarves a year or have 12 Facetime catch-ups a week using the free wi-fi on board!
Steve Walker, Managing Director, Stagecoach North East was joined by Bus Users UK Director for England, Dawn Badminton-Capps at the launch in Newcastle. He said: “Stagecoach North East is proud to be supporting the nationwide Catch the Bus Week campaign. We want to encourage people to think differently about how they travel and consider the bus for all types of journeys. Our message is clear; give the bus a go, it’s easy, economical and a great way to make the most of your free time.”
Dawn Badminton-Capps said: “Bus Users UK champion’s the passenger voice, so It’s great to see Stagecoach taking time out to talk to passengers and find out their views about bus services in the City, whilst promoting Catch the Bus Week at the same time.”
Passengers can now take easier public transport journeys with Stagecoach Bus smartphone app. The app provides customers with journey planning, next-stop information and live bus tracking, and enables people to buy and download bus tickets straight to their mobile phone.
Smart ticketing was rolled out at Stagecoach North East in November 2016 and there are more than two million StagecoachSmart cards in circulation and more than 330 million smart transactions across the UK every year.
While onboard, passengers can use their time to their advantage, checking their emails using free wi-fi, reading a book or taking a nap.
Travelling by bus is also kinder to the environment. By choosing to take the bus rather than car, passengers are helping to reduce the amount of roadside toxic emissions. Buses and coaches have consistently emitted lowest levels of NOx for any road transport.*
All of Stagecoach North East’s fleet are fitted with GreenRoad eco-driving technology and bus drivers can share £1million annual bonus for safer and more fuel-efficient driving.
Stagecoach has also invested millions of pounds in technology to help passengers make the most of their time before, during and after their journey.
Bus travel with Stagecoach is also kinder to the pocket and the company has four times been independently found to have the best value bus fares in Britain. A recent survey carried out by consumer group Transport Focus found that bus passengers rated Stagecoach as the best value major operator in the country.
Full details of the Transport Focus Bus Passenger Satisfaction Survey can be found here – https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/research-publications/research/bus-passenger-survey/
For further information about Stagecoach North East please visit www.stagecoachbus.com