Commuters urged to catch the bus and feel the benefits

Catch the Bus Week, a campaign supported by First Manchester to encourage non-bus users to trial using the bus

Drivers in Greater Manchester are being encouraged this week to swap a car journey for a bus trip, to see if they feel the benefit.

Workers spend on average one hour commuting each day, and 57 per cent of commuters make their daily journeys by car, but a recent study has found that the regular stresses of life can make the daily commute dangerous.

This week (3-9 July) is Catch the Bus Week, a campaign supported by First Manchester to encourage non-bus users to trial using the bus, and the bus operator wants to help commuters understand the benefits that bus travel can bring to their wellbeing.

First Manchester appreciates that some drivers will need more encouragement than others to make the switch, so here’s just five reasons why commuters should ditch the car and catch the bus this week.

1. An easy way to burn more calories and get regular exercise - Greener Journeys research found that the daily short walk to and from the bus stop and destination can burn 22,630 calories a year, with daily bus users clocking up the annual equivalent of 11 marathons. Both young and older people both use the bus to get exercise. 58% of 25-34 year olds said the bus made them feel fitter healthier, as did half of those aged 65 or over.

2. Getting the bus can be less stressful than travelling by car - Dr Lewis, from the University of Sussex, conducted an experiment in which the heart rate and Electro-Dermal Response (EDR) of 30 commuters was measured when taking identical or similar journeys by car as a driver and by bus as a passenger – the results showed that driving a car is significantly more stressful than travelling by bus.

3. Bus travel can make you feel happier - A study of 18,000 British workers by a team at University of East Anglia found commuting that involved some physical activity improved measures like feelings of worthlessness, sleepless nights and unhappiness.

4. Less cars on the roads will reduce pollution and improve air quality - Buses are key to tackling congestion and reducing emissions: a fully-loaded double decker bus can take 75 cars off the road. First Manchester is holding an event with Stagecoach at Manchester Royal Infirmary this week to encourage hospital staff to start to travel by bus, in a bid to assist with reducing pollution and congestion in the city centre.

5. Special offer for new bus users – First Manchester will be offering new bus users a reduced priced mTicket for £3 (usually £4.20), if they travel during Catch the Bus Week. Visit firstmanchester.com for the discount code.

Phil Medlicott, Managing Director at First Manchester said: “Attracting more people to get out of their cars and use public transport, will help to reduce emissions on the roads, but some people still believe that buses are bad for the environment, when in fact a bus with an average double decker bus produces less pollutants per passenger than a full car. There are many benefits to travelling by bus and we hope that throughout this week, we can convince car users to swap at least one of their car trips for a bus journey.”

Catch the Bus Week is a nationwide campaign aimed at driving awareness of the benefits of taking the bus. This year, the campaign runs from the 3rd to the 9th July and there will be events, ticket giveaways and other activities taking place across the country, with bus companies, local authorities and passenger groups involved.