Scotland’s first Scottish Bus Week starts today and will take place until 29th May!
Scottish Bus Week is an opportunity to celebrate all that bus can do for us in Scotland, to be healthier, greener, realise a fairer transport system and a stronger economy.
It is also an opportunity to acknowledge and thank all those who work in bus and keep our communities connected, even through challenging times. Those who work in bus kept essential services running through the pandemic and made huge contributions to communities across Scotland.
To mark the start of the week, a film is launched today that features young dancers across Scotland who have worked with #lovemybus to capture the opportunity, colour and diversity of bus across the country, the importance of bus to young people and the freedom of #FreeBusTravel for all those under 22 years old in Scotland.
This week everyone is asked to share a picture on the bus wherever you are in Scotland, and tag #ScottishBusWeek and why you love your bus with the hashtag #lovemybus!
Digital assets are available to share your reasons to #ChooseBus, whether for your health, to support jobs, for clean air, or to reduce emissions to tackle climate change.
Find these digital assets at lovemybus.scot/scottishbusweek
There will be events and activities all over Scotland all week to celebrate and show gratitude for buses, those who manufacture our buses and keep services running. The #lovemybus team will be heading to towns and cities, on and off buses, across the country all week with goodies and information on all the benefits of bus. From Aberdeen to Ayr, Galashiels to Dundee!
Nurseries and schools from Aberdeen to Argyll will be getting involved! Fife College will be hosting a pop up #lovemybus event on Thursday afternoon, in Birnam there will be early morning #CakesforCommuters all through the week and Bus Users Scotland will be at Edinburgh College on Monday.
On Monday evening Rainbows and Guides from Ratho will be heading out for an adventure using their #FreeBusTravel passes and commuters in Edinburgh are invited to #BringaBloom to the bus stop by the Edinburgh Bus Users Group!
In Ayr the Open Top Bus will be heading to the beach on Friday, Lothian Buses will be hosting a Roadshow at Edinburgh University on Thursday and in Perth there will be an opportunity to see the new electric zero emission buses up close in the city centre!
To keep up to date on all the activity throughout the week, go to www.lovemybus.scot/scottishbusweek and get involved!
Jess Pepper, #lovemybus Programme lead said:
“Buses keep our communities connected, even in the most challenging times. Scotland makes buses and most of our public transport services are provided by buses. Scottish Bus Week is an opportunity to celebrate bus and all that it can do for us, plus thank all those who work in bus and coach – making low and zero emission buses right here in Scotland and delivering services right across the country. Choosing to travel by bus can help Scotland become greener, fairer, healthier and our economy stronger. Bus is a solution for many challenges we face, sitting ready to go! We hope lots of people will #ChooseBus this week.”
Paul White, CPT Scotland said:
“CPT Scotland are delighted to be delivering, in partnership with #lovemybus and other supporters, the first ever Scottish Bus Week. This week will provide a perfect opportunity for the whole sustainable transport sector to highlight the import role bus plays in many communities across Scotland by connecting people to work, education, family and friends. It will also allow us to champion the positive aspects of bus from helping the economy and reducing congestion on our streets to helping tackle climate change and reducing inequalities. We hope this week will inform, challenge preconceptions and inspire people to choose bus in the future.”
Duncan Cameron, Managing Director of First Bus (Scotland):
“First Bus is delighted to support Scottish Bus Week and help showcase all of the good work and positive stories that the bus industry has to share. Bus is a key enabler in connecting communities and has an integral role to play in reducing congestion, cutting emissions and giving everyone an easily accessible means of travelling a more sustainable manner that’s kinder to the planet.”
Fiona Doherty, Managing Director of Stagecoach West Scotland said:
“Stagecoach is pleased to be part of Scottish Bus Week. This shines a light on bus and we hope that it will encourage people to give bus a try. If everyone in the UK took one more journey by bus rather than car it could deliver a reduction of 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year. The bus industry also offers a huge variety of careers from apprenticeships in engineering, bus drivers through to management roles.”
Nigel Serafini, Managing Director, Lothian:
“Scottish Bus Week is a great opportunity for us to celebrate the amazing contribution our teams have played in keeping cities and local communities connected during difficult and challenging times.
“We are delighted to be part of this initiative, bringing bus operators and stakeholders together to acknowledge the vital role bus plays in our economic and green recovery.”
Sharon Morrison, communications director at West Coast Motors, said:
“The Scottish Bus Week presents the perfect opportunity to recognise and celebrate our people, many of whom have gone above and beyond to keep our communities moving over the past two years. It is also a fantastic way showcase the sustainability of bus and how accessible it can be for many people living across Scotland.”
SPT Head of Bus Strategy and Delivery Gordon Dickson said:
“SPT is delighted to support Scottish Bus Week. Buses play an essential role in our public transport network connecting many across society to work, education and leisure activities. A dedicated week to recognise and celebrate everything bus is very welcome. Working with key partners and operators, we want to use this week to demonstrate to everyone all the benefits that choosing the bus brings from individual health benefits to the wider societal impact helping to tackle the climate emergency.”
Hanna Hutchison Leask, Bus Users UK said:
“Bus Users UK is delighted to be involved with Scottish Bus Week 2022. It’s our mission to bring people together through accessible, sustainable transport and Scottish Bus Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the bus and get more people on board.”
Marc Winsland, Commercial Manager, Xplore Dundee said:
“Xplore Dundee is thrilled to celebrate Scottish Bus Week as we come out of Covid and rebuild our confidence. Travelling by public transport is good for the planet – and for your pocket. So hop aboard and take the bus with us!”
John Bynorth, Policy and Communications Officer at Environmental Protection Scotland, coordinators of Clean Air Day in Scotland on 16th June, said:
“Scotland’s bus sector is at the heart of efforts to improve air quality, reduce congestion and provide a sustainable transport future.
“The new fleets of zero tailpipe and low emission buses have all the luxuries you would associate with motoring, but without the hassle of people having to get behind the wheel. There is no better form of transport than bus travel. Using buses is one of the best ways to get around Scotland. Environmental Protection Scotland are delighted to support the first Scottish Bus Week and we hope the campaign encourages thousands of people to join Scotland’s bus revolution!”
