Mind the Gap – Mansfield Bus Operator Calls for Action to Raise Profile of Free Bus Passes to Combat Loneliness
Notts bus operator aims to promote health benefits of free bus passes
Stagecoach East Midlands says more must be done to close the “knowledge gap” that is preventing entitled people from getting their free bus passes.
As part of Catch the Bus Month, Matt Cranwell, Managing Director of Stagecoach East Midlands, has called on operators to promote the availability of free bus passes, after Stagecoach’s own research showed that over a third (34%) of people eligible for a free concessionary bus pass have not even claimed theirs.
“We know what a crucial role buses play in giving people vital connections to friends, services and wider society, and combatting the epidemic of isolation that impacts upon so many people,” he said.
“I think that the industry needs to do more to appreciate the scale of the problem and encourage people to make use of their free bus passes. After all, research by Age UK shows that around 940,000 older people experience chronic or frequent loneliness, and roughly 270,000 people in England go an entire week without speaking to a single friend or family member.
“The bus can play an absolutely fundamental role in breaking this cycle. It is our responsibility, as operators, to make sure that people know they can get on a bus for free, and feel confident to do that.”
To find out more about whether you are eligible for a free bus pass, go to https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/concessionary-travel.