Stagecoach East have announced today that they will be launching a new ‘Try a Bus’ initiative to encourage Year 6 students in the Cygnet area of Bedford Borough to use the bus as part of their journey to school.

The scheme, which is a joint partnership with Stage coach East, Grant Palmer, Uno and Bedford Borough Council, will mean Year 6 students, in their last year of primary school, can take the bus to their future secondary school for free, to try out the journey. The initiative hopes to encourage more students to use the bus to travel to their new secondary school during term time.

Bedford Borough Council’s Sustainable Transport Team will give Year 6 students a ‘Try a Bus’ voucher to present to bus drivers. The voucher can be exchanged for a one or two Cygnet day pass for free travel, either travelling alone or with a parent, carer or friend, on the route to their future Secondary school in Bedford. The Cygnet day pass provides travel on Grant Palmer, Stagecoach and Uno services around Bedford. The ‘Try a Bus’ scheme runs until 30 September 2022.

Bedford Borough Council will be visiting local primary schools for a series of workshops with Year 6 students. To launch the ‘Try a Bus’ scheme Stagecoach East will be bringing a bus to some schools to help students familiarise themselves with using public transport and Mayor Dave Hodgson will join Stagecoach East staff, to highlight the benefits of bus travel.

Darren Roe, Managing Director at Stagecoach East, said: “The ‘Try a Bus’ scheme will help educate primary school pupils in Bedford about using public transport to travel to school.

“It’s important that children feel capable of using public transport as they mature and progress into secondary education, so we hope this initiative will inspire their confidence in using our bus services in Bedford to travel to school. And of course, the more people, of all ages, using local bus services, the more we help reduce the number of cars on our roads, and lower carbon emissions in our communities.”

Mayor Dave Hodgson said “Giving Year 6 students a voucher for free bus travel and the opportunity to experience their future secondary school bus journey for free, will hopefully encourage more pupils to use public transport in the future.

“Public transport is a great way for us all to reduce our emissions, and reduce the level of traffic on our roads. This initiative is running until 30 September and I really encourage pupils to get involved. I am looking forward to meeting students at Shortstown Primary School to talk about it.”

Workshops have already taken place at Shortstown Primary School and Goldington Green Academy and are planned to take place at schools including Sheerhatch Primary School, Wixams Tree Primary School, Westfield School, Bedford Road Primary School , Wilstead Primary School, Cotton End Forest School, Great Denham Primary School, Oakley Primary Academy, Putnoe Primary School, Scott Primary School, Balliol Primary School, Springfield Primary School, Great Ouse Primary Academy, St James’ C of EVA Primary School, Bromham Primary School and Camestone School.

For more information on Stagecoach East travel services www.stagecoachbus.com/about/east

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