23/07/2009

Stagecoach is giving its support to a Scottish Government campaign aimed at promoting greener travel and transport.

The Perth-based transport group, which operates around 1,500 buses across Scotland, is backing the campaign by giving consumers the chance to win free local bus travel for a year.

More than a third of car passenger journeys are less than two miles and road transport is one of the largest contributors to climate change.

The Scottish Government's Go Greener travel and transport campaign is promoting the benefits of leaving the car at home at least once a week, particularly for shorter journeys.

There are many benefits to leaving the car at home - not only will you save money on petrol and parking costs, you can leave the stress of being stuck in a traffic jam behind, benefit your health, and help Scotland Go Greener!

Even leaving the car at home just once or twice a week can make all the difference. You might even surprise yourself and enjoy the change as it becomes part of your routine.

Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Brian Souter said: "We are proud to be part of the Scottish Government's Go Greener campaign. Public transport has a crucial role to play in cutting global carbon emissions and we are also doing what we can as a business to reduce our own carbon footprint.

"Our research has found that climate change is of real concern to our customers. They want to help do something about it and taking public transport instead of commuting by car is an effective way for people to make a difference.

"As well as being a greener, smarter option, public transport can also be a cheaper way to travel, which is really important to families in the current economic environment. We hope that by promoting the benefits of sustainable public transport we can help make it easier for people to have greener lifestyles."

For more information on ways to be greener and to take advantage of great Stagecoach promotional offers, please visit www.infoscotland.com/gogreener.

Earlier this year, Stagecoach held its first ever Group-wide Green Week to highlight the environmental benefits of using public transport and to show staff and passengers how the company is reducing its own carbon footprint.

Stagecoach has launched a three-year Carbon Management Programme (CMP), in partnership with energy management consultancy Inenco, to further improve its environmental performance.

The Group's wide-ranging strategy to tackle climate change and make its business more sustainable includes:

• Investing in more fuel efficient vehicles
• Using alternative, renewable fuels
• Providing training in more efficient driving techniques
• Saving energy at offices and depots
• Conserving and recycling water
• Reducing and recycling waste
• Reducing business travel
• Providing affordable bus and rail travel
• Developing green travel plans and incentives for staff, customers and partner organisations.

For further information on Stagecoach's sustainability strategy and measures the Group is undertaking to tackle climate change, visit www.stagecoach.com.

ENDS

For further information contact:
Steve Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications, Stagecoach Group
Phone: 01738 442111 or mobile: 07764 774680
email: steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.