Harrogate Bus Company insists buses are clean and safe to use as new face mask rules introduced

As buses across the country adopt new Government instructions to wear face masks, bus operator The Harrogate Bus Company is making it easy to buy one – and helping NHS charities at the same time.

A specially designed face covering featuring all the colours of parent company Transdev’s bus services across the North is going on sale for just £2.50 – with all the proceeds going to NHS Charities Together, supporting NHS staff and volunteers caring for Covid-19 patients nationwide.

Transdev is also giving away 250 of the colourful coverings to key workers who’ve been riding its buses to get to work throughout the lockdown.

The Harrogate Bus Company’s CEO Alex Hornby said: “The latest Government guidance is a simple ‘ask’ of our customers, so everyone can travel with peace of mind.

“Our buses are clean, safe and ready to go, and we want everyone to travel in comfort and confidence. Several of our buses also now have ‘coverings’ of their own, right up front where everyone can see them – like our customers, we’re putting our best face on.

“We’ve always set out to make our buses places people want to be seen, and the same unique touch of style we’ve become famous for has gone into creating unique face coverings, which will be available to our customers from today at our travel shop in Harrogate Bus Station.”

A two-minute video, filmed on location in the North of England, is helping to dispel any customer concerns about using buses now that lockdown restrictions have begun to ease.

The Government has also given guidance on who doesn’t have to wear a face covering on public transport – this includes:

- Babies and children under 11 years old

- People with breathing difficulties

- Those with some physical, mental or sensory conditions who would not be able to put on a covering or may not understand the need to wear one, or who would be impaired by a covering, including those who rely on lip reading

- Carers travelling with someone who would find communication with a face covering in place difficult

- Any customers on dedicated school bus services

Complete information on how to plan a journey, including how The Harrogate Bus Company’s website and mobile app can help customers check how busy a bus is before setting out, is available online at www.transdevbus.co.uk/harrogate

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