Politicians all set to run on the right ticket

An adventure on the buses begins on Monday (June 29) for three senior politicians on Buckinghamshire County Council, and this week the three bus-keteers got their tickets to ride for Catch the Bus Week.

They’ll be aiming to turn at least one extrajourney into a bus ride during Catch the Bus Week, which runs from Monday until Friday (July 4).

The County Council, which is supporting bus services in the county to the tune of £2.4 millionthis year, is backingthe national move to get people out of their cars and on to the bus.

During this week residents are being encouraged to look at their local bus routes to see whether any of their journeys could be done by bus.

That’s not difficult for Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, who’ll be catching the X60 from his division in Buckingham to County Hall, Aylesbury, as he does several times a month, to support greener travel.

Mark Shaw, Transport Cabinet Member, usually catchesthe bus to get around appointments in London, while his Deputy, Paul Irwin,sometimes parksat Aylesbury Vale Parkway and rides into town.

Mark, who’ll be catchinghis local bus to the station,said: ‘This is a challenge to Buckinghamshire to think outside the car fora week. Let the bus chauffeur you there!’

As an incentive, the three bus-keteers are challenging residents to take ‘selfies’ on their smartphones while they’re on the bus, and Tweet to @bucksbuses using #CTBW2015. There will be a daily winner from Monday to Friday and each will receive some free bus travel.

In the past year across Buckinghamshire, nearly 11 million trips were made by bus- up 1.3% on the previous year. All the county’s bus timetables can be downloaded from www.buckscc.gov.uk/travelinfo.