Stagecoach East calls for improved communication to tackle local traffic congestion

Stagecoach East, the largest bus operator in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, has announced that it is urging for better communication among local stakeholders to address the pressing issue of traffic congestion. This appeal comes as figures underscore the vital role buses play in alleviating jams, reducing pollution, combating climate change and enhancing public health and the local economy.

Key statistics reveal the substantial benefits of bus travel:

• Bus commuters contribute £64 billion to the economy annually
• A single double-decker bus can remove up to 75 cars from the road
• Buses are essential for local communities, helping to connect millions of people, reduce loneliness, cut traffic and lower air pollution
• Buses remain the UK’s most popular form of public transport.

With air pollution costing the health services £20 billion each year, buses, particularly the 32 electric ones operated by Stagecoach East, play a pivotal role in mitigating its impact through modern, sophisticated technology.

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David Boden, Business Development Director of Stagecoach East and inaugural Chairman of the CP Bus Alliance, said: “Buses are one crucial part of a genuinely sustainable transport future for our region, and we are always eager to speak with the other transport operators and local elected officials to understand how we can all work together. It is also essential that other road users, like the utilities companies and housing developers, talk to us regularly and really consider their impact on how buses can get our customer where they need to go. We can only tackle the curse of congestion if we work together.”

Paul Tuohy from the Campaign for Better Transport said: “Sustainable transport does amazing things. It shrinks traffic jams, cleans up our air and tackles climate change. It improves our health and boosts our economy. It connects us to the things that matter.”

This announcement follows Stagecoach East’s recent report on improved reliability figures, showing that it completed over 99.5% of its scheduled miles in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire at the start of June 2024. This reliability underscores the commitment to providing a dependable service amid the challenges posed by local traffic congestion.