Steering the conversation: Over a quarter of Bristolians meet new friends on the bus
Instead of plugging in headphones or burying heads in books while travelling on public transport, Bristolians are actually striking up conversations with strangers, as new research shows over a quarter (26%) have made long-lasting friendships with people they have met on the bus.
The newly commissioned research by First Bus, one of the UK’s largest bus operators, reveals that the bus is a place where chance encounters evolve into lasting friendships.
However, despite Bristolians’ well-earned reputation for being friendly, Londoners have taken the top spot as the research reveals they make the most friends (46%) on the bus.
Regions most likely to make friends on the bus:
- London – 46%
- Wales – 40%
- East of England – 36%
- North East, West Midlands – 34%
- East Midlands – 26%
- North West, South West, South East, Yorkshire/Humberside – 23%
- Northern Ireland – 22%
- Scotland – 19%
It’s clear that small talk on public transport helps strengthen community ties, as over three-quarters (77%) of Bristolians agree that it’s important in supporting community connections and 42% believe the bus is a vital service in their community. Also, when asked how they would feel if the bus was no longer available for them to use, over a third (32%) reveal they would experience feelings of isolation.
To celebrate the role the bus plays in connecting communities through conversation, TV personality and Bristolian, Josie Gibson, joined First Bus on a tour of her local area, reminiscing on how the bus played a key role in keeping her connected to her community.
Speaking about the bus, Josie Gibson said: “My time reminiscing on the journeys I used to make when I was younger has been a great reminder of the wonderful way buses offer connection for people. The bus is the unsung hero within our local communities, so I’m not surprised to hear how many people are making long-lasting connections after a brief chinwag to the person sat next to them.”
Josie also spoke to a selection of everyday heroes from across the country who are doing spectacular things within their community to make it a better place, such as Charlotte Churchill.
Charlotte set up Operation Community Hamper in Bristol which last year donated 656 Christmas hampers to families of four who struggled to afford Christmas presents. Alongside her day job working in child protection, Charlotte hopes that her charity will deliver 1,000 bespoke hampers to those in need this Christmas. View Charlotte's video.
Doug Claringbold, Managing Director for First Bus in the west of England said: “The bus is more than just a mode of transport, it’s a critical connector of people to each other and to their communities and without it many would feel isolated and cut off. In fact, our research shows that nearly half (44%) of people feel the bus is a vital service within their community.
“It’s been brilliant partnering with Josie Gibson to help promote the vital work buses do in connecting people to their local communities and we’ve loved getting to hear what a key part the bus played in her life and career too.”
As part of her work with First Bus, Josie helped share the stories of resilience, dedication and community spirit of just a few everyday heroes including people like Charlotte, representing the everyday of the many; showing how the bus brings people together. View Josie's video.
First Bus is undergoing a huge transformation as a business, focusing on its passengers, and its people. The bus can bring everyone closer together and connect communities – buses don’t just move a nation, but they bring a nation together, every day.
Notes to editors
Methodology
Research was conducted by PureSpectrum among 2021 UK general consumers. The research fieldwork took place between 19th - 21st November, 2024.
About First Bus
At First Bus, we are on a mission to grow bus usage. We will get behind initiatives that move people out of cars and onto bus. We’re one of the UK’s largest bus operators, delivering over a million passenger journeys every week for the communities we serve. Transforming our business for the better, we’re putting our people and customers at the heart of all we do.