Calls to ditch the car and take bus to work

Commuters are being urged to get on board during First Manchester's 'Catch the Bus Week'.

COMMUTERS in Oldham are being urged to ditch the daily drive into work and board the bus during First Manchester's 'Catch the Bus Week' (July 3-9).

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.

First Manchester is encouraging non-bus users to trial this form of transport, which has benefits including:

+ burning more calories - Research by campaign group Greener Journeys 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. Plus, 58 per cent of 25-34 year olds said the bus made them feel fitter and healthier, as did half of those aged 65 or over.

+ reducing stress - 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.

+ making you feel happy - a study of 18,000 British workers by a team at the University of East Anglia found commuting that involved some physical activity improved measures like feelings of worthlessness, sleepless nights and unhappiness.

+ reducing pollution and improving air quality - a fully-loaded double decker bus can take 75 cars off the road.

+ saving money - First Manchester is 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 an average double decker bus produces less pollutants per passenger than a full car.

Awareness

"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 and this year there will be events and ticket giveaways across the country, with bus companies ,councils and passenger groups involved.