Study shows short car trips remain common despite easy bus travel

Despite 54% of those in Yorkshire and Humberside agreeing that buses are easy to navigate, many of us are guilty of reaching for car keys for surprisingly short journeys. In fact, 89% of those in the region admit to driving for journeys that are less than one mile.

New research from Stagecoach has looked into the nation’s relationship with their daily commutes. Aside from unveiling our love for running on car fumes, it also found that traffic congestion is Yorkshire and Humberside’s biggest vice, with it being a major source of daily stress for a third (32%) of us.

Matt Kitchin, Managing Director of Stagecoach Yorkshire, said: “Using the car for our journeys might feel easier in the moment, but it comes at a cost: more congestion, more pollution, more stress.”

He added: “It’s Monday morning and you're sat in your car, drumming your fingers on the steering wheel as traffic crawls along at snail's pace and you begin contemplating all the things you could be doing if you weren’t stuck in traffic. Sound frustratingly familiar? You won’t be alone.

“We're at a crossroads in how we think about transport. Climate change, air quality, cost, mental wellbeing and community connection – these aren't abstract issues anymore. They're daily realities affecting all of us.

“The good news is that solutions don’t have to be costly, nor do they require massive lifestyle changes or expensive technology; they’re already there, running reliably on routes designed around our needs.”

With September being Catch the Bus Month, Stagecoach has decided to dig deeper into our relationship with cars and how hopping on the bus may be the simplest, and most effective solution.

Hit the carbon brakes

Buses offer a smarter, calmer way to travel, and every journey on them helps reduce our impact on the environment.

In fact, with nations across the globe rushing to meet net zero targets, a whopping 80% say buses are important for the UK's net zero climate solution. Yet only 32% have actually taken a bus in the last week.

Buses aren't just moving people around; they're quietly working as congestion-busters and air-cleaners. They carry 11 million passengers every single day, enabling people to earn, learn, and spend in local communities.

One full double-decker bus can take up to 75 cars off the road and each person who swaps their daily car commute for a seat on a full double-decker bus could save around half a tonne of CO₂ per year. That’s equivalent to:

• Charging your phone once a day for roughly 482 years
• One passenger’s share of a flight to Europe
• Powering your home for a whole month.

Ready to give bus travel a try? Visit the Stagecoach website to explore routes and plan your journey.

This Catch the Bus Month, download the Stagecoach app for real-time updates and easy ticket purchasing, and discover how choosing the bus can change your daily commute.