Regional transport leaders and operators are celebrating Catch the Bus Month 2022 and encouraging local people to get onboard and enjoy public transport this September.

Each year around 162 million journeys in the North East are taken by bus and increasing public transport usage is central to achieving regional aims to improve our environment, reduce congestion and lower carbon emissions from private vehicles.
Catch the Bus Month is run by national charity Bus Users UK and aims to encourage more people to try out their local bus services.

One of the most sustainable forms of transport, a double-decker bus can take up to 75 cars off the road and switching even 1 journey in 25 to the bus would save 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director at Transport North East, said: “I’m delighted to be celebrating Catch the Bus Month with our partners including local bus operators, Nexus, the Confederation of British Transport (CPT) and Bus Users UK.

“Over 162 million journeys in the North East each year are taken by bus – it’s a life-line for many local communities and a great sustainable way to travel to work, education or leisure opportunities.

“I hope local people will take the opportunity to try the bus this September – including those infrequent users who might not have been onboard for some time!

“The industry has had a tough time post-covid and we’re working hard to improve our regional bus network – I’m sure that passengers will see some major changes coming over the next 12 months as we look to deliver the North East Bus Service Improvement Plan.

“We’re currently out to consultation on our Making the Right Travel Choice Strategy which asks car users to switch one journey a week to public transport, walking or cycling and people who don’t have access to a car to continue to travel sustainably. Catch the Bus Month is a great opportunity for us all to introduce more sustainable transport into our daily travel habits – whether that’s travelling to work or school this September.”

Dawn Badminton-Capps, Director England, Bus Users UK, said: “We’re delighted to mark the start of Catch the Bus Month with Transport North East and their partners.

“Buses have been pivotal in getting us through the pandemic and they make a vital contribution to the whole of the North East region. We need to get more people on board and celebrate all the benefits buses have to offer.”

Gary Edmundson, Operations Director, Go North East, said: “We are pleased to celebrate Catch the Bus Month this September.

“Taking the bus is a great value, sustainable way to travel and we hope to see passengers onboard soon.”
Kim Purcell, Regional Commercial Director at Arriva, said: “We’re proud to be supporting Catch the Bus Month, celebrating all that is great about ‘bus’ across the region!

“We know how important our bus services are to our customers and our communities, Catch the Bus Month provides a wonderful reminder of this to everyone and we look forward to welcoming customers – new and existing – on board our buses across September.”

John Souter, Head of Customer Service Operations at Nexus, said: “We are delighted to join with our local authority partners and the bus industry to back this national campaign to encourage wider bus travel in our community.

“Buses provide a fantastic service, at low cost, and we want to see more people return to this mode of public transport in the post Covid era.

“Catching the bus helps to reduce congestion on our roads. It’s a greener and more affordable option than taking the car. Buses provide vital links in our communities and many people are reliant on them to get around.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for the bus industry, with the impact of lockdown on passenger numbers, and now all of the new cost pressures as inflation continues to rise, so it’s great to see a campaign aimed at attracting more customers back to the local bus networks.”

Steve Walker, Stagecoach North East Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Catch the Bus Month and it’s a great opportunity for people to review their travel options. With such a connected network in the North East, and so many local companies working together to deliver an improved public transport offer for our region, this summer is a great chance for people to jump on board with the latest promotions and give the bus a go.

“Alongside the various health and environmental benefits of taking the bus instead of driving, bus travel can also save local people money at a time when other living costs continue to rise.”

To find out more about Catch the Bus Month visit www.bususers.org/catchthebusmonth or email catchthebus@bususers.org