Government urged to promote public transport as new campaign is launched to get people back on board
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A national campaign to help get people back on board public
transport is being launched outside the House of Lords and across
social media today (19 May) by sustainable transport charity,
Campaign for Better Transport. The Way Forward campaign is calling
on the Government to support public transport by actively
encouraging people to use buses, trains, coaches and trams as
restrictions ease, and introducing an incentive scheme to help
boost passenger numbers as part of a...Request free trial
A national campaign to help get people back on board public transport is being launched outside the House of Lords and across social media today (19 May) by sustainable transport charity, Campaign for Better Transport. The Way Forward campaign is calling on the Government to support public transport by actively encouraging people to use buses, trains, coaches and trams as restrictions ease, and introducing an incentive scheme to help boost passenger numbers as part of a national plan to place public transport at the heart of a green recovery. Paul Tuohy, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “The events of the last year have made people less confident about using public transport, but as restrictions continue to ease, we all need to start getting back on board. That’s why we’ve launched this campaign to urge the Government to reassure people that public transport is safe again and to introduce a national scheme of discounted fares to encourage people to use it. By getting back on board we can all help to reduce congestion, protect the environment and boost the economy in a way that is fair and sustainable.” As more workplaces, shops and businesses reopen in the coming months, campaigners argue it will be crucial that people return to public transport to avoid increased congestion and air pollution, and help communities recover. To protect public transport services both now and in the long term, and encourage people back on board, The Way Forward campaign is calling on the Government to:
Mr Tuohy added: “A public transport network shaped around passengers that provides the services people need, at a price they afford, as we adapt to new ways of working and living is crucial to rebuilding the economy and tackling climate change. By placing public transport at the heart of its transport policy the Government can make sure we all have access to easy, convenient and affordable journeys no matter where we live.”
Notes to Editors Case study quotes Andrew Hamilton from Seaford in East Sussex “Most of the time, I need to catch the bus for work. To be honest with you, getting the bus is what gives me my independence. I don’t want to keep relying on my wife to ferry me about. The bus gives me that bit of independence and experience. The drivers don’t rush me, and they don’t put me under any pressure. I honestly believe the bus company has done everything it possibly can to make the bus safe. There’s no reason, in my view, that you’re more likely to get Covid on a bus; you’re more likely to get it in a supermarket. I still wear a mask on the bus for my own safety, even though I have a Helping Hand exemption card. I’m quite an outgoing person and [the bus] means I don’t feel trapped and reliant on other people. I know there’s a bus stop down the road and I can go myself. I’m not a person to stand by and let everyone do everything for me. The bus is good for disabled people.” Jessica Shipp from South Brent in Devon "Using public transport has always been important to us as a family... Our children have been used to jumping on and off trains and buses from a very early age... We have always found traveling on the train with them to be a really enjoyable experience. We get to look out at the scenery, play games and chat to fellow travellers... that kind of thing, so it's quite relaxing really. “As this latest lockdown eases, we're really looking forward to travelling further afield again and we've even worked with the children to put a little list together of the places we'd like to visit. We've promised them several trips to the beach, a night away in a hotel, and best of all we're going to visit Grandad for the first time in 14 months, so we're looking forward to that.”
"Before the pandemic, we used trains and buses to go further afield, to take our children out of town to walk and cycle, and we obviously used trains to visit our relatives across the country. If we're not cycling, we like to take buses along the south coast and into the South Downs; we might combine bus and rail, as that can work really well to access a rural starting point and a town end to a walk. Our kids have fun on our journeys as we can give them proper quality time, and on rail especially they can get up and walk around sometimes, too. Strapping perpetual motion machines into car seats for several hours at a time is a very odd thing to do, if you think about it! When rural pub gardens are open, we grown-ups will be able to have a post-walk pint and not have to do the driving. We also hunt down the cafes, bakeries and good village stores to stock up on goodies for the journey home - that's part of the day out." Diane Tolley from Coventry "As mature people it's important that we remain mentally and physically active and public transport means we can continue to get out and enjoy our lives. I haven't been using the bus as often as I did previously as I've been following government advice to only make essential trips. But as we start to come out of lockdown and are all able to travel a little more freely, I believe it’s really important we all take some responsibility to make some small changes to our lives by considering using public transport more. One of the things I couldn’t help but notice during lockdown is that quieter roads have meant less pollution. While taking my daily exercise I have found myself thinking: 'I haven’t seen the skies as clear as this since I was a kid!'”
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