Welcome to the Bus it! special edition newsletter

Good news is rolling in for travel in West Sussex as we introduce more buses and make bus travel more efficient to improve your journey. Learn about what we've been doing to make taking the bus better for you and your family. Get inspired to explore our beautiful county affordably and more sustainably by hopping on the bus.

Make the most of West Sussex this spring

Experience West Sussex and the vibrant culture the county has to offer. From food festivals and open air performances to local craft markets and garden shows, there’s always something happening across the county.

With single fares capped at £3, it’s more affordable to travel by bus. Whether you’re heading out solo, travelling with friends or taking young children, local operators offer extra discounts to help you save.

If you’re of state pension age or have an eligible disability, don’t forget you can apply for a free bus pass anytime.

We’ve partnered with bus operators to improve bus services across the county.

• Better links to Crawley, Horsham, Worthing, East Grinstead, and improved to connections to Brighton are happening with Metrobus.
  
  
• The introduction of a new 24-hour Stagecoach Coastliner 700 service connecting Chichester, Bognor Regis and Hotham Park.
  
  
• The Stagecoach Bus 500 service linking Littlehampton, Yapton, Barnham, Tangmere and Chichester. 
  
  
• In rural areas surrounding Aldingbourne, Barnham, Bepton, Chichester, Lavant, Lurgashall, Midhurst, and Plaistow, try our flexible bus service, Book-a-Bus.

Why not leave the car at home, hop on the bus and enjoy a day out that’s affordable and better for the planet?

Faster, more reliable, and better buses for you

Since 2022, we’ve worked with local bus operators, partners, and the Department for Transport (DfT) to improve bus services across the county through our Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). 

This year, we’ve been granted additional funding from the DfT to continue improving the county’s bus services.

We’ve already improved 153 bus stops across the county and have 195 more stops scheduled to receive an upgrade in 2025/26.

Other enhancements include introducing more bus lanes in Crawley, and the “Traffic Light Priority” programme along the coast including Bognor Regis, Rustington and Worthing. This programme gives priority to buses meaning more reliable journeys for you.

With these upgrades, we can continue to connect you with your communities, provide you with a more attractive and eco-friendly way to travel, and support a sustainable and prosperous economy for all in the county.

Book-a-Bus it

It’s been nearly two years since we launched Book-a-Bus. Since then, you've booked over 21,700 journeys.

Book-a-Bus doesn’t follow a specific bus timetable and route. Instead it operates within set zones and collects you from your nearest pick-up point.

We introduced this flexible bus service for people living in more rural areas with limited or no traditional bus service.

Check out our interactive map and see where you can travel with Book-a-Bus.

If you plan to travel in any of our Book-a-Bus zones and haven't tried the service yet, you can use the code "BusItFree" to get your first ride free. 

Young & on the move? Use the 16 to 20 Bus Saver

We work with local bus operators in the county to provide cheaper bus fares for young people in the county aged 16 to 20.

Young people have already saved money on over 400,000 journeys using the 16 to 20 Bus Saver scheme. We are on track to help young people make a whopping half a million cheaper trips by the summer.

This means many of our young residents are saving on bus fares and helping us reach our ambitious Climate Strategy targets.

It's easy to get the discount, there's no need to apply. Simply ask for the 16 to 20 Bus Saver discount from the bus driver or get it on the bus operator's app. You may need to show a valid proof of age ID (e.g. CitizenCard).

Know anyone that can benefit from the cheaper discount? Encourage them to use the 16 to 20 Bus Saver when travelling.

More to discover

• 421 Real Time Passenger Information Displays installed, with 125 more to come. These displays are installed on bus stops allowing you to keep updated with your bus times, leaving you with better journey planning. Join our installation journey and check our improvement map for our upcoming works.
  
  
• Improved public transport satisfaction. We're proud to share that satisfaction with bus services in West Sussex has improved to 86% following the results of the 2024 Transport Focus survey. And Compass Travel were the second most highly rated bus operator of the 61 included in the survey.
  
  In the 2024 National Highways and Transport Network survey, West Sussex bus passengers have reported increased satisfaction with bus safety, bus accessibility and cleanliness.
  
  
• Over 600,000 journeys on the Bus 500: In July 2023, we partnered with Stagecoach to introduce the Bus 500 route. We've seen noticeable growth in ridership and are looking forward to reaching our next milestone of one million journeys - keep an eye out.

There's always something new to learn about the county. Keep updated and head to our newsroom for the latest information.

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