A CAMPAIGN to encourage more people to hop on buses has been launched as households face mounting financial pressures.

Somerset County Council and Somerset Bus Partnership are joining forces to urge more of us to BUS IT.

As well as saving on fuel and vehicle maintenance, using public transport helps cut congestion and reduce your carbon footprint.

Following the withdrawal of the government’s Bus Recovery Grant, bus operators are currently weighing up the viability of routes in Somerset, and one of the key factors operators will use is the number of passengers on each route.

Passengers are slowly returning to buses in Somerset following the pandemic, but usage is still only 70 per cent of levels compared to pre-Covid.

And patronage among bus pass holders is lower than before, with many not making the most of their free off-peak travel.

Somerset County Gazette:

The BUS IT initiative webpage at www.travelsomerset.co.uk/bus/bus-it-you-know-it-makes-sense/ carries information and links to operators so you can find out about ticket deals, including Buses of Somerset, which offers a range of competitive prices, including a £100 ticket bundle of 20 day tickets. The journeys can be used on any day and are valid for a year.

County Hall executive lead member for transport Cllr Mike Rigby said: “We need to make sure more people are using the bus to try and protect routes.

“The best way to do this is to use it and there are lots of compelling reasons why now more than ever it is a great alternative.

"Running a car is not just about what you put in your fuel tank, it is how much you have to spend on parking, taxing, servicing and insuring your vehicle.

"Now’s the time to look at what you could be saving.

“By catching the bus, you can make a demonstrable difference to our environment and can save money and wear and tear on your car.

“You can find all sorts of deals with bus operators which can save you money. We all know it makes sense so let’s BUS IT.”

Peter Travis, co-chairman of the Somerset Bus Partnership, which represents passengers, said: “Getting more people to BUS IT both helps bus operators keep their fares down and means bus users keep their bus services, so, it's a win-win.

“We fully support the campaign – please BUS IT if you can, save money, protect bus routes and protect the environment.”