This month sees the return of Catch the Bus Month.

Some people find the bus the best way to get to work. Others use it for shopping trips, hospital appointments or social visits.

Whatever category you come under, there’s no doubt that having a bus route nearby is a good thing to have, and the variety of tickets and fares available can make it a very economical and environmentally friendly way to travel.

Depending on the destination it can also be easier to travel somewhere by bus knowing you don’t have the hassle of parking up when you arrive.

The benefits of bus travel are being driven home by the charity Bus Users UK which organises and promotes Catch the Bus Month, launching on September 1st.

Working with local authorities, bus companies and industry bodies, their aim is to encourage people to literally get on board, bigging up how buses play their part in sustainability, reducing social isolation and encouraging independence in young people.

There is a longer term aim too, to boost passenger numbers and encourage people to make bus travel a regular part of their routine, for work, retail or leisure purposes.

In March last year the Independent Transport Commission published a report on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on transport and land use in Britain. During lockdown journeys on public transport were limited to those considered essential, such as key workers travelling to work. As a result, bus journeys dropped by approximately 65% compared to pre-pandemic levels. The wearing of face coverings was mandatory for most passengers during this period until restrictions were eased in July 2021.

Passenger journeys have since returned to over 80% of the pre-Covid levels (this figure is higher in London), however the sector faces additional challenges in boosting this number.

These include the established practice of hybrid working, meaning less home-to-work travel, the decline of high street shopping as people turned to online alternatives and with revenues falling, some bus companies subsequently decided to reduce services.

There is good news though. Travel for leisure and education purposes (to schools and colleges) has remained strong and is proportionally higher than the 2020 figure. It is hoped that these younger travellers will continue to use the bus as they move into the working environment.

School journeys aside the bus, be it red, yellow, blue, black or green, single or double decker, rural or city, is ready to take you where you need to go. If you’d like to find out more about the many benefits of travelling by bus, stop by the Bus Champions stall at the following events listed below. They’ll be happy to provide information, timetables, guides and possibly even some free taster tickets. All aboard!

September 1st Swadlincote Adult Education Centre

September 2nd Burton and Swadlincote College Fresher's Fair, Swadlincote campus    

September 4th Burton and Swadlincote College Fresher's Fair, Burton campus

September 16-17th Derby University Fresher's Fair 

(Written by Mark Sheldon)