September 22 2022

Taking the bus twice a month instead of the car would create: 

  • Reductions in air pollution valued at £28m, enough to pay 800 nurses for a year
  • A reduction of nearly 16m tons of CO2e, the equivalent of the total emissions of the North East

On World Car Free Day (today, 22nd September), car drivers are being encouraged to swap their cars for the bus or coach to help the environment.  

The Confederation of Passenger Transport, the voice of the bus and coach sector, says switching car journeys to bus and coach is essential to achieving the country’s net zero emissions goal.  

The recently Decarbonisation Dividend report, created alongside leading economic consultancy WPI Economics, found that if every person in Great Britain switched just over one car trip to bus or coach per month each year (13 per year) by 2030 it would create a reduction of 2 million tons of C02e. What’s more, a shift of just over two trips per month (26 per year) journeys by 2050 would result in a cumulative reduction of 19.5 million tons of C02e. 

Commenting on World Car Free Day, Graham Vidler, CPT Chief Executive said:  

“World Car Free Day is the perfect time for drivers to swap their cars and catch the bus or coach. Small changes in the way we travel can create a big difference. To unlock these benefits, each of us needs to switch just one journey per month from car to bus by the end of this decade, two journeys per month by 2050. That’s it.” 

ENDS 

Notes for Editors:  

  • Download the Decarbonisation Dividend Report: The economic, environmental and social benefits of more bus and coach journeys
  • September is Catch the Bus Month, an awareness campaign from Bus Users UK
  • CPT is the voice of the coach and bus sector with around 900 members in the UK
  • CPT’s Media Office contact details: media@cpt-uk.org / 07384895052
  • CPT’s Chief Executive Graham Vidler is available for interview upon request