With spiralling fuel costs and rising inflation hitting garage bills has there ever been a better time to bus it?

Somerset County Council is joining forces with the Somerset Bus Partnership which represents passengers to encourage more people in the county to use the bus.

It’s not just about what you put in your fuel tank, it’s how much you have to spend parking, taxing, servicing and insuring your vehicle. Now’s the time to look at what you could be saving.

Using the bus can save money and it can save wear and tear on your car. There are all sorts of deals with bus operators which can save you money.

 

Look at the finances

You can use the online calculators here to work out car running costs and the fuel costs of your journey - www.somerset.gov.uk/busit . You can also check out the ticket deals on our links to local bus operators.

Whether it’s commuting or day tripping you could be saving money with some of the options available, so why not take a look.

 

Protect the environment

Catching the bus means you leave your car at home – if 50 people take the bus instead of commuting that’s 50 cars fewer heading into town. Factor in bus lanes and the amount of time you’re sitting in traffic at the busiest times and there are even more reasons to bus it. You could be saving money, and you’ll definitely be cutting carbon.

 

Time for you

On the bus you can read your book, catch up with friends on your phone, check emails, or just relax and watch the Somerset scenery pass by. How does that compare with your car commute?

 

Can I save?

Take just one example. A £100 ticket bundle from Buses of Somerset buys you 20 day tickets – that’s unlimited travel for £5 per day which can be used flexibly at any point in the year,

If your daily commute by car is a round trip of 30 miles your petrol cost per day using an average consumption of 35 mpg is around £7.24 per day – that’s around £144 for 20 days.

If your daily commute is a round trip of 50 miles, that’s a daily cost of about £12, so £240 for a 20-day period – and don’t forget parking. If you add a conservative cost of £5 per day, that’s another £200.

Find out more about Buses of Somerset ticket bundles as well as weekly and monthly passes, and ticket options available from other operators in your area by visiting:  www.somerset.gov.uk/busit

 

Are you using your bus pass? Have you applied for your bus pass?

If you’re not using your bus pass you’re missing out on unlimited free travel across the county after 9.30am. You could be exploring Wells, Minehead, Taunton, and Glastonbury and Bath as well as visiting Exmoor

Now’s the time to live life to the full and make the most of your bus pass!

 

Flexible transport – Somerset’s Slinky Bus

Slinky Bus is a door-to-door demand responsive transport service funded by Somerset County Council for people not served by or unable to access conventional public transport. All the vehicles are accessible and the service can be used for various purposes including; getting to local health appointments or exercise classes, visiting friends or family, going shopping or attending social events. You can also use Slinky as a link to access other forms of public transport.

 https://somerset.thinktravel.info

Plan your bus journey, find links to operators, Slinky and community transport on our Somerset Think Travel portal – https://somerset.thinktravel.info