Stagecoach backs national 'Catch the Bus' month with campaign to bust common travel myths

Stagecoach, the UK’s largest bus and coach operator, has today announced its full support for Catch the Bus Month throughout September. Building on last year’s nationwide success - which saw over 370 operators, local authorities, community groups, and campaigners take part - this year’s campaign focuses on myth-busting to transform public perceptions of bus travel.

Throughout the month, Stagecoach’s brand, communications, and marketing team will amplify national campaign messages across all digital and regional channels. The campaign directly addresses out-dated misconceptions by pairing common travel myths with the reality of modern bus travel across Stagecoach’s four Customer Value Proposition (CVP) pillars:

• Value for Money
• The Myth: “It’s only for people who don’t have a car.”
• The Truth: People choose the bus because it’s a smarter, better-value way to travel.
• Effortless Service
• The Myth: “It’s complicated and unreliable.”
• The Truth: The Stagecoach Bus App makes travel easier than ever with simple journey planning, mobile ticketing, and live bus tracking, supporting a more reliable travel experience.
• Modern Choice
• The Myth: “You have to have cash.”
• The Truth: Most customers buy tickets through the Stagecoach Bus App or via contactless payments, making journeys quicker and more convenient.
• Sustainability
• The Myth: “One bus journey doesn’t make a difference for the planet.”
• The Truth: One full double-decker bus can take up to 75 cars off the road, significantly reducing congestion and lowering emissions.

A Stagecoach spokesperson said:

“Catch the Bus Month is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on public transport and challenge some of the lingering misconceptions around bus travel. Modern bus services are tech-enabled, highly convenient, and great value for money - whether you’re commuting, heading to the high street, or looking for a greener way to get around.

“By tackling these common myths head-on across our four CVP pillars, we want to show non-riders and regular passengers alike just how seamless and beneficial choosing the bus can be for their daily routines and local environment.”

As part of the digital roll-out, Stagecoach will release three dedicated short videos across its social media channels during September. Each video directly tackles a key myth while demonstrating the reality of the contemporary passenger experience.

By sharing partner content and broadcasting key campaign messages nationwide, Stagecoach aims to drive modal shift, encourage sustainable travel choices, and showcase how easy modern bus travel is.