‘One Billion Challenge’

Following the success of its recent ‘Catch the Bus Week’, Greener Journeys, the national campaign to promote sustainable travel, is calling for the public to back its campaign to cut one billion car journeys. The ‘One Billion Challenge’ takes the lead role in Business in the Community’s ‘Be the Start’ month, which aims to celebrate and demonstrate how living sustainably is rewarding and meaningful. Over 25bn car journeys are made every year according to the campaign, so to reach the 1bn reduction mark represents one fewer car journey per month for drivers.

CEO of Greener Journeys, Claire Haigh, said, ‘Greener Journeys’ vision is to transform our communities into cleaner, greener, less congested and more prosperous places to live and work, where public transport is a convenient and desirable choice for everyone. Buses are so important to all of these things and initiatives like “Be the Start” are key to getting people on board. Buses help reduce congestion on the roads, promote social inclusion by providing a vital link to those without other means and reduce all our carbon footprints and travel’s effect on the environment. This campaign will be a springboard for greater public attention of the bus’s many benefits and I hope will encourage both car drivers and infrequent bus users to give the bus a try.’