From Keighley News, July 3rd, 2018
Written by Alistair Shand
KEIGHLEY councillors have been encouraged to join the Jet set. District and town council representatives are being urged to leave their cars at home and hop on a bus. They are being offered a free ‘ticket to ride’ as part of national Catch the Bus Week, which began on Monday. Keighley Bus Company hopes the initiative, through the Transdev Go mobile phone app, will tempt more people to ditch their cars and travel on its popular Jets service network. Catch the Bus Week – now in its sixth year – is promoted by the sustainable travel group, Greener Journeys, with the backing of operators.
Activities are staged across the country, with local authorities and passenger groups also involved.
Keighley Bus Company has teamed-up with the Campaign for Better Transport to offer all councillors the free weekly ticket.
The company’s general manager, Alan Isherwood, said: “Our Keighley Jets buses are an easy, friendly and great-value way to travel around town, and there’s no better time than Catch the Bus Week to give us a try.
“The buses offer free superfast 4G Wi-Fi, USB power, next-stop announcements and our innovative ‘countdown to departure’ destination displays, which let you know when your bus is ready to go.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming councillors on board and hope others will follow their example and take off around town with Keighley Jets.”
The venture has won support from the town’s MP, John Grogan.
He said: “I am a regular user of Keighley buses and I have said in Parliament that Keighley is the friendliest bus station in Yorkshire!
“This year we are also celebrating 20 years of the national concessionary bus pass.
“I would encourage Keighley citizens of all ages to try the local bus this week, even if it is some time since they have used one.
“Some of the modern buses in particular are a joy to travel on and it is still one of the simple pleasures of life to sit back and watch the world go by.”
The Keighley Jets network comprises 17 services, across the town and neighbouring areas.
Eight new routes were added last month.
They are operated by a new fleet of Mercedes buses.
A spokesman for Catch the Bus Week said: “The week is a unique and fun initiative to show people the benefits of taking the bus and it’s a chance to profile bus services all over the country.”