Points boost for bus passengers as part of Renfrewshire’s Not Far? Leave the Car campaign

Bus passengers will be rewarded for leaving the car at home thanks to a month-long boost from Renfrewshire Council’s Not Far? Leave the Car campaign.

Throughout February, anyone signed up to the campaign will receive 50 points for each bus journey they take instead of using the car – more than three times what they’d normally collect.

Points can also be earned by cycling, walking or using other public transport and can then be turned into discounts and freebies at more than 100 Renfrewshire businesses.

Councillor Michelle Campbell, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “This campaign is a fun, simple way to get rewarded for using active travel to get from A to B.

“We want people to think twice to using the car to reduce our emissions as we transition towards net zero in Renfrewshire, so please consider if you can walk, cycle or get the bus or train rather than using the car – especially for short journeys.

“Sign up to the free campaign and start collecting your points, and rewards, today.”

The campaign has also given 21 people a month’s bus pass to use in Renfrewshire to encourage them to make a permanent switch to bus travel and leave the car at home.

Colin Napier, McGill’s Group Service Delivery Director, said: “Reducing the number of journeys taken by car will have significant benefits for Renfrewshire, including a reduction in emissions and congestion on our roads – not to mention the opportunity for all of us to get more active.

“Bus travel can play a huge role in reducing emissions, getting travellers from A to B quickly and easily and our new zero emission electric buses offer quiet, comfortable, excellent value journeys, with the capacity to remove hundreds of cars from the roads through people choosing to travel with us.

“We can all play our part in reducing car travel by swapping to the bus or walking even a few times per week and we are hugely supportive of the aims of the Not Far? Leave the Car campaign.”

The campaign aims to reduce emissions from car travel, as well as encouraging people to become more active and improve their mental and physical health.”

Almost 1,000 people are currently taking part by tracking their journeys on the free app and are picking up points to redeem locally as part of a drive to encourage people to spend local in Renfrewshire.

For more information on how to join the campaign, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/leavethecar.