Lincolnshire County Council is encouraging residents to get on board this September as Catch the Bus Month returns for 2026.
The annual campaign aims to raise awareness of local bus services and encourage more people to consider public transport for their everyday journeys, highlighting the benefits buses can bring to the economy, environment, health and wellbeing.
Cllr David East, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Catch the Bus Month is a great opportunity to celebrate the important role buses play in keeping Lincolnshire connected.
“Whether you're travelling to work, heading into town, visiting friends and family or simply exploring somewhere new, buses provide an affordable and convenient way to get around without having to worry about driving and parking.
“Buses are an important part of our transport network and getting more people on board can bring benefits for our communities, our environment and the local economy.”
An event in Lincoln city centre on Friday 28 August marked the launch of this year's campaign, with a playful twist inspired by the county council’s 2026 theme, “Catch a Toy Bus”.
A professional juggler was on-hand to entertain members of the public and encourage conversations about local bus services, with residents invited to try their hand at juggling while wearing the campaign's distinctive big red hands.
The launch was attended by Lydia Horbury, Chief Executive of Bus Users UK; Cllr David East, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council; and Stuart Eccles, network design manager for transport.
Catch the Bus Month is Bus Users UK's national celebration of the benefits of bus travel, encouraging people to get on board and discover the benefits of using public transport.
Lincolnshire County Council will be running an online campaign throughout September highlighting local bus services and encouraging people to consider leaving the car at home and travelling by bus.
Lydia Horbury, Chief Executive of Bus Users UK, said: “A bus is one of those things we can all picture, from a child’s first toy bus to the real thing waiting at the stop. What matters is what happens when you get on it: where it takes you, who you meet and what becomes possible as a result.
“I think Lincolnshire has captured that beautifully with ‘Catch a Toy Bus’. It’s a fun way to get people talking about buses, but it also reminds us that sometimes we need to stop and look again at something that has been part of our lives for generations.”
Celebrating 25 years of Callconnect
The Catch the Bus Month launch event also marked 25 years of Callconnect, Lincolnshire's demand-responsive transport service.
The first full Callconnect bus took to the road in 2001, with the first services operating in Horncastle and Spilsby. Since then, the service has grown significantly and now connects 931 villages and towns across Lincolnshire, making it one of the largest, longest-standing and most successful demand-responsive bus services in the UK.
Today, Callconnect operates seven fixed routes alongside its demand responsive services, helping people travel to work, education, healthcare, shops and other essential destinations. An app was introduced in 2023, alongside the telephone booking service, as part of the service’s continued development, making it easier for passengers to plan and book journeys.
Cllr David East, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “It’s fantastic to be celebrating 25 years of Callconnect and the important role it has played in keeping people across Lincolnshire connected.
“Callconnect provides a vital service for many residents, particularly those living in more rural communities. By providing flexible, demand-responsive transport, it helps people get to work, appointments, shops and other essential services, while also giving people greater independence.
“Reaching 25 years is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the importance of flexible public transport in a large, rural county like Lincolnshire. Here’s to another quarter century!”
For more information about bus services in Lincolnshire, visit www.lincsbus.info.
For more information about Catch the Bus Month, visit www.bususers.org/catch-the-bus-month.