You’ll probably be familiar with the phrase ‘you wait ages for a bus then three turn up at once’, but if this is the extent of your working knowledge of the bus network, you should consider paying a visit to the Bus Champions stall at an event near you this summer.

Who are the Bus Champions? The latest additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? A Pixar adventure based on a motley collection of Routemasters?  Well, it may be the season for summer blockbusters, but you’re more likely to find these champions at various events across the county this summer.

Their origins (every superhero has a back story) date back to 2019 following the then Conservative government’s pledge to develop a national bus strategy which aspired to deliver simpler fares, more buses and more frequent services and improved routes and infrastructure.

One element of the strategy was the requirement for each Local Transport Authority such as Derbyshire County Council to produce a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). The Council’s plan sets out what measures the Council and its partners in the bus industry will introduce in their area to reverse the long-term national decline in bus patronage over the last 20-30 years which has been compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can read the 2024 Derbyshire BSIP here.

The Bus Champions were formed two years ago, funded by money awarded to the Derbyshire BSIP by the Department for Transport. Their pivotal role is to offer reliable, informed advice on bus services and tickets, provide information and offer incentives to encourage travelling by bus by working with communities, businesses, bus operators, schools, colleges, universities and tourist and hospitality organisations.

One of their priority areas has been to promote Derbyshire’s b_line travel concession card scheme which provides discounted travel for 11–19-year-olds with a further pilot scheme, the b_line3 card for 19–21-year-olds, running to the end of this year.

Find out more about the b_line offers in the Tickets & Fares section of the Travel Derbyshire website.

The hope is that first-time b_line card holders will become and remain regular bus users as they progress through their school years into college, work and beyond.

The Champions have also worked with passengers at the other end of the age demographic by encouraging eligible Derbyshire residents (those aged 66+ or with certain registered disabilities) to apply for and use a Gold Card. Holders are allowed to travel free, off-peak on local buses throughout the whole of England, from 9.30am to 11pm weekdays and at any time during weekends and bank holidays.

Although Gold Card users are on the rise post-Covid, they are not yet at the numbers recorded before the pandemic and the Bus Champions have been conducting focus group discussions to investigate the possible reasons behind this.

Apart from information and advice, the Bus Champions offer free 7-day Wayfarer taster bus tickets (subject to availability) amongst other goodies at their stall whenever they’re out and about across the county. So, with the school holidays well underway and a world of travel options available, why not check out the Bus Champions at an event near you this month? And if you miss one, there’ll be another one coming along soon…

In August the Bus Champions will be at Ashover Show on the 13^th, Chesterfield Youth Hub on the 26th and Ilkeston Library on August 28th.

Amongst the September dates are Swadlincote Adult Education Centre on the 1st and Burton and Swadlincote College Fresher's Fair: Swadlincote campus on the 2nd and the Burton site on the 4th. They will also be at Derby University Fresher's Fair on the 16th and 17th. Please stop for a chat!