A third of people eligible for free bus travel have not applied for a pass, Banburyshire’s bus service says.

Stagecoach is urging pensioners, those with disabilities and others who qualify for a free bus pass to apply for one. As well as offering free transport, they say getting out and about helps combat loneliness.

The company has called for more to be done to close the ‘knowledge gap’ that is preventing entitled people from getting their free bus passes.

As part of Catch the Bus Month, Mark Whitelocks, Managing Director of Stagecoach Midlands, has called on all operators to promote the availability of free bus passes, after Stagecoach’s own research showed that over a third (34%) of people eligible for a free concessionary bus pass have not even claimed theirs.

Stagecoach is now putting out regular advice aimed at increasing awareness of the free pass. If you have reached state pension age or have a certain disability, you may be eligible for a concessionary bus pass from your local council, free of charge. This is a bus pass that allows concessionary travel on most buses for free.

Mark said: “We know what a crucial role buses play in giving people vital connections to friends, services and wider society, and combatting the epidemic of isolation that impacts upon so many people.

“I think that the industry needs to do more to appreciate the scale of the problem and encourage people to make use of their free bus passes. After all, research by Age UK shows that around 940,000 older people experience chronic or frequent loneliness and roughly 270,000 people in England go an entire week without speaking to a single friend or family member.

“The bus can play an absolutely fundamental role in breaking this cycle, whether by a friendly hello from the driver or a chat with the other passengers, or simply being able to get to the shops, days out with friends or medical appointments. It is our responsibility, as operators, to make sure that people know they can get on a bus for free and feel confident to do that.”

Catch the Bus Month throughout September has been highlighting the role buses play in local transport and society.

To find out if you are eligible, go to www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/concessionary-travel.