Local people and visitors to the Isle of Wight are being encouraged to find out how easy and convenient it is to travel by bus.
To mark Catch The Bus Week – a nationwide campaign running between 4th and 10th July – Southern Vectis is helping to raise awareness of the benefits of travelling in this way, particularly among those who don’t normally use public transport.
Southern Vectis general manager, Matt Kitchin said:
“Two thirds of the nation’s public transport journeys are by bus – and studies show that it is a third less stressful than travelling by car. Taking the bus can also help achieve half the government’s recommended 30 minutes exercise per day.
“Catch The Bus Week gives us an excellent opportunity to highlight the many benefits of leaving the car at home and journeying with Southern Vectis.
“Almost 2.5 million people all over Britain travel to work by bus – and a million more use it as a back up. For many, it is a vital lifeline. An affordable and accessible form of transport – and it’s a great and easy way to travel.
“The bus is an essential contributor to our economy too. Passengers make 1.4 billion shopping trips and spend an estimated £27 billion on retail goods annually – £21.5 billion of which is spent in town and city centres.
“And, every year, commuters create and provide more than £64 billion worth of goods and services.”
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As part of its drive to highlight the benefits of the bus, Southern Vectis is offering anyone who buys a ticket via the firm’s smart card – the key – during Catch The Bus Week the chance to win a month’s worth of free travel.
Matt added:
“Buying tickets in this way is safer and more secure than buying paper passes for longer periods. Anyone who loses their ‘key’ can replace it with any remaining travel intact.”
For more information about the key, and travelling by bus on the Isle of Wight, visit www.islandbuses.info.
