Motorists across Cumbria and North Lancashire are being encouraged to park their cars and embrace greener travel for World Car Free Day on Monday 22 September.
The annual event champions walking, cycling, and public transport to help cut pollution, ease congestion, and slash harmful CO₂ emissions. Evidence shows the public is increasingly on board with this idea – with half of people saying they’d like to use buses and trains more often, and 56% keen to walk or cycle more.
This year’s Car Free Day coincides with Catch the Bus Month and European Mobility Week, giving people even more incentive to leave the car at home.
Bruce Lawson, Active Cumbria Senior Manager, said: “What a wonderful opportunity as part of World Car Free Day to ditch the car and consider making a change to active travel.
“Earlier this year Active Cumbria along with partners Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council created a brand new go-to website titled Travel Actively, which encourages people to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday journeys.
“The website provides residents with everything they may need to know on travelling actively in Cumbria. It includes a journey planner, information on how to get started with active travel, alongside details of news and events, and inspirational stories from local people.
“Please visit the Travel Actively website for more details and make that change.
Tom Waterhouse, Managing Director of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, said: “I’d like to thank all our passengers because every time they take the bus, they’re doing their bit for the planet.
“According to Net Zero Nation, replacing car trips with bus travel reduces CO₂ emissions by a massive 42 per cent.
“That isn’t the only benefit. You can make better use of time on the bus, perhaps by reading a good book on your daily commute, and there’s a better view of the countryside from the bus, especially from our double-deckers.
“Even if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool motorist, I hope you’ll give the bus a go on World Car Free Day. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
To inspire people to make the switch, Stagecoach has a full line-up of Lake District services running, from open-top buses between Bowness and Grasmere every 20 minutes, to scenic hourly journeys over Kirkstone Pass and to Buttermere, plus connections from towns across the region.
With the £3 national fare cap still in place, many trips – including Lancaster to Keswick or Carlisle to Newcastle – cost no more than a cup of coffee. Pensioners with a NoW card can travel free on any Stagecoach bus.
Plan your journey at stagecoachbus.com
