Survey encourages customers to take the bus for the latest gossip - or to find a new love!

• 71 per cent of northern and 80 per cent of southern respondentssaid they would use the bus more frequently if they knew more aboutwhat services were on offer.
• Eavesdropping, gossiping, daydreaming and snoozing stillpopular on-bus activities.
• 2.6 million households receive service information and discounttravel offers.

A recent bus users' survey carried out for Arriva askedcustomers about a number of different activities to establishwhether there were any differences between how men and women behaveand react on buses – and if the north-south divide really existsfor bus users.

The survey accompanies a UK-wide campaign giving people anopportunity to find out more about bus services in their area andgiving discounts on tickets as an incentive to travel. Leafletsalso contain simple route maps and detail which bus to catch to arange of key destinations.

Households on 74 of Arriva's busiest routes and networks willreceive information about their local service, including times ofthe first and last buses, how often they run and details aboutmoney saving ticket deals.

Catherine Mason, marketing and customer service director forArriva's UK Bus division explains:

The campaign recognises that many people are put offbus travel because they don't know when and where the bus goes.Although elements of the survey are fun, 71 per cent of northernand 80 per cent of southern respondents said they would use the busmore frequently if they knew more about what services were onoffer.

Arriva has invested nearly £190 million in newbuses over the last four years and this heavyweight campaign, nowin its third year of activity, takes the next logical step oftelling both existing and potential customers how to get the bestfrom their local Arriva bus service.

Leaflets are being distributed to almost 2.6 million homesbetween March and May 2003.

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