Stagecoach launches myth busting catch the bus month in Sunderland
“We want more people to give the bus a try this September”
Stagecoach is encouraging people across Sunderland to catch the bus this September as it launches Catch the Bus Month 2026 while celebrating more than 114,000 free bus journeys made by young people across the city during August.
The journeys were made by young people aged five to 15 using free bus travel in Sunderland during August: equivalent to filling the Stadium of Light more than twice over.
The journeys were made as part of the Government’s temporary Kids Go Free bus travel scheme, which ran throughout August.
September marks the return of Catch the Bus Month, with this year’s campaign taking a ‘myth busters’ approach to challenge outdated perceptions of bus travel.
The campaign will tackle three common myths, that buses are dirty, unreliable and outdated, by highlighting the modern, clean and increasingly sustainable bus network serving communities across Sunderland and the surrounding areas.
Stagecoach is aiming to encourage more people to choose the bus throughout September and beyond, demonstrating that buses are a modern, practical and sustainable way to get around.
Steve Walker, Managing Director of Stagecoach North East, said: “The 114,000 free bus journeys made by young people across Sunderland during August are a fantastic demonstration of the difference affordable and accessible bus travel can make.
“That is enough journeys to fill the Stadium of Light twice over and shows just how much young people and families value having the freedom to get out and about across our city during the school summer holidays.
“While the temporary Kids Go Free scheme has now ended, we want to build on that momentum through Catch the Bus Month and challenge some of the outdated myths that can still surround bus travel
“Our buses are modern, clean and increasingly environmentally friendly, and we are constantly working to make our services more reliable and build trust with the customers who depend on them.
“There is a bus worth catching in Sunderland, whether you are heading to work, meeting friends, enjoying a day out or simply exploring more of what our city has to offer.
“We want more people to give the bus a try this September and discover for themselves why it remains such an important part of everyday life in Sunderland.”
Catch the Bus Month is running throughout September, with activities and initiatives taking place across the UK to encourage more people to consider bus travel and “make it part of their everyday journeys”.