When the Government instructed us to ‘Stay at Home’ to ‘Save Lives’ and ‘Protect the NHS’ at the start of the Coronavirus ‘lockdown’ in March, bus operators quickly put their services on a much reduced ‘core’ timetable – with public transport being deemed for ‘essential travel’ only.
As movement restrictions are gradually eased, and more people return to work, the vast majority of Nottingham City Transport (NCT) buses are back to their former timetable from Sunday June 28th 2020. For Ruddington, the reinstatement of the Navy 3 service means residents, shoppers and workers can again catch a bus to Clifton, Wilford and the City via Clifton Road and Wilford Road. Also our Green 10 service will be extended again to take passengers through to Ruddington Fields Business Park/Rushcliffe Country Park at peak times and on Sundays. Only the N48 Nightbus (and NCT’s other overnight services and University buses) will remain suspended for now.
Although it’s expected passenger numbers will take a long time to get back up to previous levels, the government is providing financial support to bus companies to enhance their services – in order to provide maximum capacity for people to be able to space out on their journeys. NCT has released this new video to reassure its customers that travelling by bus is safe when they follow its ‘Safer Travel Guidance’.
The new video summarises the guidance which will help people who haven’t used buses during lockdown familiarise themselves with how to travel as government restrictions are relaxed.
The key points are:
- Planning and checking the website for the latest information, including how quiet or busy the bus is*
- Sanitising and washing hands regularly
- Wearing a facial covering
- Boarding the bus one at a time and keeping apart from other people on board, where possible
- Driver screens which provide a barrier and protection between customers and drivers
- The closure of some seats for social distancing
- Referring to the guidance on board throughout the journey
- The training and guidance NCT drivers have received
- The cleaning of buses, particularly commonly touched surfaces
*Ruddingtonians can make use of NCT’s recently launched online “Capacity Checker” to see how quiet or busy your bus may be before you travel.
NCT Marketing Manager Anthony Carver-Smith says: “As we return to normal timetables at the end we understand that many people who haven’t used our services for several weeks will have questions about how to keep themselves safe. This new video outlines the key aspects of the safer travel guidance, which will ensure everyone has a safe journey if they follow the government’s advice”.
As we previously reported, Monday June 15th saw the mandatory requirement for passengers to wear facial coverings on public transport: “We’d like to thank the vast majority of our customers who have complied with this request” adds Mr Carver-Smith. “There are a number of legitimate reasons why people cannot wear a facial covering, including hidden disabilities, so we urge people to show consideration towards other travellers who are allowed to travel without a covering”.
You can read about those exemptions >>HERE<<.
Ruddingtonians may remember that some bus fares were due to increase on Sunday 29th March but that these were postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The good news for passengers is that NCT now has no plans to make these changes for the foreseeable future. The full list of current bus fares can be found >>HERE<<.
