Over the next week, passengers on some of Sheffield’s busiest bus routes in the S10 area will be treated to bags of goodies and offered the chance to win free travel. This is to mark the launch of the first Smart Route in South Yorkshire.
‘Smart Routes’ are key bus routes that have received major makeovers – including bus lanes, other bus priority measures, highway improvements, real time information and new low floor buses. A network of Smart Routes is being rolled out across the county.
The improvements to the 51, 52, 60 and 120 and this marketing approach are a result of a joint project (the S10 Quality Bus Corridor), between the Transport Executive, Sheffield City Council and bus operators.
The quirky marketing campaign starts today and rewards passengers for making the smart decision to use the bus. As part of the campaign, Travel Advisors will be carrying out ‘bus stop blitzes’ at various stops in the S10 area, giving away goody bags to passengers.
These bags will contain items that people can enjoy on the bus such as radios and puzzles, boxes of smarties and specially designed ‘smarty pants’ for students. A number of the goody bags contain golden tickets giving the passenger a days’ free travel. There is also a prize draw for a years’ free travel across South Yorkshire on all public transport worth £750.
Marketing Manager for the Transport Executive, John Ansari, said: “The marketing campaign aims to grab the attention of non public transport users and make them think about the bus as a serious alternative to the car. It is also a light hearted way of letting passengers know that they are making the smart choice. Using the bus is smart for lots of reasons – for the environment, for congestion and to save time and money.”
Smart Routes are part of a countywide strategy designed to help everyone travel around South Yorkshire more easily and safely. It aims to make journeys as hassle-free as possible, whether they travel by bus, car, bicycle, or on foot.
Mr Ansari added that buses can carry as many people as forty average car loads - and forty fewer cars in the rush hour could make a big difference to congestion and pollution.
He said: “This is why we are taking this new fresh approach in our marketing to encourage more people to consider an alternative to sitting in a traffic jam - let someone else do the driving and take the Smart Route.”
Posters urging people to take the ‘Smart Route, use the bus’ will be displayed on the back of buses, inside vehicles, at bus stops and at the City’s Interchanges.