Put your FirstFootForward – ditch the car and let the bus do the work

First West of England is encouraging customers to let them do the driving this summer and enjoy the great outdoors by bus as lockdown lifts. 

It has published a series of circular and one-way walks that can be easily reached by bus, allowing you to enjoy your local environment and help protect it at the same time by leaving the car at home.

They include Frome Valley Walkway, Stoke Park Circular, Troopers Hill and Arnos Vale cemetery in Bristol, the River Avon Path and the Dramway in South Gloucestershire. There are also tips on where you can grab a drink or a snack to keep you going on the way.

The recent National Travel Attitudes survey from the Department for Transport confirmed that cycling and walking became much more common during the pandemic amid growing appreciation of the outdoors.

Some 34 per cent of cyclists are cycling more than they were before the pandemic, while 38 per cent of walkers are walking more.  And the trend looks set to continue as restrictions are removed, with 95 per cent of those who are cycling more planning to keep it up and 94 per cent of walkers aiming to keep taking more steps.

Sarah Wallbridge, Marketing Manager said: “Many of our routes serve spectacular parts of the countryside in the region, taking you to the doorstep of some great walks which we know a lot of people discovered during the past year. 

“With a bit of planning it doesn’t even have to be a circular walk as services will run right past the start and end of your day out. You don’t have to worry about parking the car or having a drink if there is a pub along the way!”

 “Our message to customers is that, for a day out, the bus really is a viable alternative to the car: it lets you enjoy the scenery, contributes to cleaner travel and is great value for money especially if you buy your tickets in advance using our App. If successful, we plan to promote more routes in the wider West of England area so our customers can explore further afield.”

First is slowly increasing services as it sees restrictions ease and more customers getting back on board.  With many of us holidaying at home this summer, it expects to see much higher demand for many of its routes, especially in popular holiday and day out destinations such as Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare and Wells.

Day and group tickets are available. An Adult Bristol Day ticket is £4.50 on the First Bus app or £5 contactless on board. The Bristol Group ticket is £9 on the First Bus app and £10 contactless on board which allow up to five people unlimited travel. Both ticket types are valid from 4.30am to 4.29am the following day.

Sarah added: “Our network of services link-up the major West of England staycation locations which means once you get to your destination you can explore what the neighbouring towns and cities have to offer without the need to jump back in your car.”

For details of all the walks and services, visit https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/plan-journey/bus-walk