new marketing campaign launched to encourage older folks to make use of their free bus move to fulfill family and friends, rediscover native points of interest and get their ‘tradition repair from 66’
drive to extend bus journey will increase wellbeing of older and disabled folks, assist sustainable bus providers and assist develop the financial system
newest statistics present a 36% drop in bus utilization since 2019 for concessionary passholders, sparking transfer to encourage eligible folks to get out and about free of charge
Older and eligible disabled persons are being urged to benefit from free bus journey to fulfill pals, join with nature and go to new locations this summer time, by a brand new authorities marketing campaign launched at this time (15 July 2023).
The brand new ‘Take the Bus’ marketing campaign is concentrating on folks aged 66 and above, and disabled people who find themselves eligible for a concessionary move, to encourage them to make use of the free bus journey accessible.
The transfer comes as statistics present concessionary journeys are down by greater than a 3rd since earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic.
The marketing campaign reminds passholders of the advantages of utilizing bus journey, together with staying lively, visiting new locations, taking over hobbies and seeing family and friends – whereas saving cash on journey. The brand new adverts encourage move holders to ‘Take the Bus’, with posters and social media belongings made accessible for native authorities, bus corporations and others to customize, co-brand and use of their space.
Together with the federal government’s £2 bus fare cap scheme, the marketing campaign goals to get extra folks utilizing the bus to assist cut back congestion and emissions whereas supporting the bus trade and serving to develop the financial system.
Because of the free bus fare scheme, concessionary move holders across the nation can entry nice days out free of charge. Individuals can go away the automobile at house and seize certainly one of Stagecoach’s frequent ‘triangle’ routes to Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay, or hop on the Coastliner 840 from Leeds to Whitby, voted England’s most scenic bus route for its unimaginable views throughout the North York Moors Nationwide Park.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper stated:
We would like these eligible to embrace all the advantages their concessionary move can convey, with free bus journey permitting them to get pleasure from nice journeys out – all they should do is ‘take the bus’. Round £1 billion a yr of central and native authorities funding goes in direction of concessionary passes to assist older and disabled folks get out and about whereas saving them cash and serving to develop the financial system.
Cora Woodhouse, Arriva Advertising and marketing and Buyer Service Director, stated:
We’re happy to be working with the Division for Transport ( DfT ) to assist and encourage concessionary journey throughout our community. We’re eager to remind the communities we proudly serve daily that we’re right here to attach them to the locations they wish to get to and the folks they love and for no price with a concessionary move. There are lots of locations you need to use our providers to go to and revel in days out and, in fact, taking the bus provides an environmental and social profit, too. Right here at Arriva, we might be extending the attain of the DfT marketing campaign, pushing the marketing campaign through our web site, electronic mail, social channels and app. We will even be investing in a paid-for media marketing campaign alongside local people occasions, firstly in Yorkshire and the East Midlands with the view to then roll it out throughout our full community.
David Sidebottom, Director on the impartial watchdog Transport Focus, stated:
Passengers inform us that buses are a significant lifeline to assist them see household and pals, go to excessive streets, get to important appointments and join them to the locations and issues they love. This marketing campaign is nice information for bus move holders and, hopefully, they are going to take full benefit to get out and about and journey to locations outdated and new. In Transport Focus’s forthcoming analysis, 91% of free move holders informed us they knew a good quantity about their native bus service, so now is a superb time to offer it a go and take the bus.
As a part of the Assist for Households marketing campaign, the Division for Tradition, Media and Sport ( DCMS ) is selling free and low-cost occasions occurring throughout England for these in search of inexpensive actions over the summer time. Individuals can discover out what’s occurring close to them utilizing this new interactive map – from discounted cinema tickets to free museum exhibitions, accessible through the concessionary bus passes accessible.
Simon Pearson, Chief Industrial Officer of First Bus, stated:
The bus is a perfect approach for older folks to get out and about and revel in life of their native space and past. Bus journey provides the expertise of the day, no matter you will have deliberate. At First Bus, we’re excited to welcome extra clients on board to find the place a concessionary move can take them.
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes stated:
With summer time upon us, it’s a good time for concessionary move holders to be planning a visit out with household and pals, profiting from free bus journey to discover the excellent points of interest and locations acrossEngland and in a soothing and environmentally pleasant approach. There’s all the time a lot happening in England throughout the summer time, whether or not having fun with a visit to our gorgeous shoreline, lovely countryside or our vibrant metropolis points of interest. I do know our tourism and hospitality companies might be very happy to see you.
Alongside the marketing campaign, councils spend round £1 billion on concessionary journey, supplied by authorities funding from the Division for Levelling up, Housing and Communities ( DLUHC ) to allow native authorities to offer free journey through native bus operators to aged and disabled concessionary move holders.
That is along with the lately introduced long-term bus funding to assist and enhance bus providers, together with £200 million to proceed capping single fares outdoors of London at £2 till 31 October 2023 after which £2.50 till 30 November 2024, in addition to £300 million to guard bus providers throughout the nation.
Jason Prince, Director of the City Transport Group, stated:
The bus is a good way to entry the very best of what our metropolis areas have to supply, whether or not that be world-class cultural experiences, nice inexperienced areas or sensible locations to socialize and store. Native transport authorities play an vital half in connecting our native communities and we encourage older folks and people with disabilities who’re eligible for a free concessionary move to take the bus and discover their native areas.
Sylvia Barrett, Director of Coverage and Analysis at Higher Transport, stated: