More than 50,000 kilometres worth of individual car journeys have been replaced with bus travel in the past 2 years, thanks to a partnership between Visit Isle of Wight, Southern Vectis and local accommodation providers.
The news comes in the same week that the Isle of Wight was awarded UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Status, of which sustainable travel was an element.
The arrangement forms part of Visit Isle of Wight’s Green Star scheme, which asks businesses in the tourism sector to encourage their guests to consider sustainable transport options. Gold members of the Green Star scheme are able to offer eligible guests free bus travel as an incentive to give their car a break and help to protect the environment.
Paul Judge from The Leconfield Hotel in Ventnor has been a member of the scheme since it began in 2017 and has continuously encouraged visitors, who would otherwise have travelled by car, to explore the Island by bus:
“I’m a big advocate of Visit Isle of Wight’s Green Star and key card schemes. My guests love the idea of exploring by bus and leaving their car at the hotel. Not only can they see and experience more by not driving, they also enjoy being more environmentally-friendly”.
Nicola Rogers, Visitor Travel Project Manager, said:
“Naturally there are many environmental benefits to travelling by bus, but seeing the island from the top of a double decker also adds to the visitor experience. We firmly believe that this stress-free, scenic way to travel is a great way to inspire our visitors to return to the Island time and time again”.
Richard Tyldsley, Southern Vectis general manager, said the scheme was working well:
“This is an excellent partnership and I’m delighted to have seen such a significant shift from car to bus here on the Island. It makes the initiative particularly worthwhile”.
In addition to reducing car journeys on the Isle of Wight, the project is also generating a feedback about the Island’s buses. To date, 98% of a sample of 650 visitors participating in the scheme rate customer service, reliability and punctuality as good or excellent. With the majority of participants not having used a bus in the previous two years, the scheme also hopes to inspire visitors to become regular bus users when they return home.
Richard continued:
“I’m also pleased to learn that so many of those using the scheme have highlighted the excellent customer service they’ve experienced. In addition to all this, the surroundings here on the Isle of Wight offer some spectacular views – especially when enjoyed on our open-top buses. I’m not surprised so many are choosing to leave their cars at home”..
Lower down there is a report saying 5 school bus routes stopped also the coastal route from Shalfleet to Cowes encompassing Thorness Bay has no public transport for visitors or workers. Good work so far keep it up and add more routes please.
Wish I had the money to use a bus