Coronavirus Travel Advice

Plan your journey

• can I walk or cycle to my destination?
• have I checked the latest travel advice from my transport operator?
• have I booked my travel ticket online, bought a pass or checked if contactless payment is possible?
• have I planned my journey to minimise crowded areas and allow for delays?
• am I taking the most direct route to my destination?
• download the NHS COVID-19 app before travelling

What to take with you

• a face covering -for longer journeys, take more than one face covering and a plastic bag for used face coverings
• a plan for the journey
• tickets, contactless payment card or pass
• phone, if needed for travel updates, tickets, contactless payments
• hand sanitiser
• essential medicines
• tissues

Consider walking and cycling if you can. Local cycling schemes can be used.

Where possible, try to maintain social distancing when you walk or cycle (stand at least 2 metres apart), for example when approaching or passing other pedestrians or waiting at crossings and traffic lights.

Always wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or sanitise your hands before and after you journey.

• Plan your walk with our journey planner
• Plan your cycle journey on Better By Bike

If you can only make your journey via public transport, follow the guidelines below:

• Plan your journey in advance using our journey planner;
• Check the status of your bus service in advance, or check for any planned changes, on our Bus disruptions page;
• Current and upcoming bus timetables can be found on our Routes & Timetables page. Simply change between Timetable Option to see what’s available;
• Plan your journey in advance and check the status of rail services on the National Rail Enquiries website.
• Download the NHS COVID-19 app before travelling.

On your journey:

• wait for passengers to get off first before you board;
• please remember more people are travelling and coming together safely as government restrictions have eased. So, when the bus is busy it will not always be possible to sit apart from others and someone may sit next to you;
• ensure you maintain your distancing while waiting where possible, including at busy entrances, exits, under canopies, bus stops, platforms or outside of stations;
• please open windows to help with ventilation;
• face coverings are mandatory on public transport, you must wear them over your nose and mouth:
  • this includes bus, coach, train and ferry
  • transport hubs, such as rail stations
  • exemptions to the rule include young children, disabled people and those with breathing difficulties. Visit Gov.UK for a full list of exemptions;
• be prepared to queue or take a different entrance or exit at stations;
• when buses show a bus full sign:
  • be prepared to wait if your bus is showing a bus full sign even if it appears to have space
  • the bus will only stop when people want to get off
  • if they do stop they will normally only be able to let one passenger on for each one that gets off
  • if someone with a visual impairment is at the stop please let them know if the bus is full;
• wait for the next service if you cannot safely keep your distance on board a train, bus or coach;
• respect other people’s space while travelling;
• avoid consuming food and drink on public transport, where possible;
• be aware of pregnant, older and disabled people who may require a seat or extra space;
• be aware that some individuals may have hidden disabilities;
• choose contactless payment to buy tickets, where possible;
• if you can, travel at off-peak times (in normal circumstances, off-peak would be from 09:00 Mondays to Fridays. However, due to the current pandemic, bus operators have reported different peak periods on their services, this could be from around 11am until 2:30pm. This may vary by bus route, please contact the bus operator to find which is the best time to travel on your usual bus service. Weekends and Bank Holidays are off-peak all day. )

Always wash and sanitise your hands for 20 seconds before and after your journey.

• Where possible, check in using the NHS COVID-19 app if you enter a venue that has an official NHS COVID-19 QR code poster at the entrance – alternatively, you can provide your contact details

Enforcement of face coverings on public transport

You are not allowed to get on public transport if you are not wearing a face covering over your nose and mouth, unless you have a legitimate reason for not wearing one. Transport staff may tell you not to board or ask you to get off.

Some people who are exempt may choose to use cards or badges to avoid challenge, but it is important to be aware that there is no requirement to do this, and some people may choose not to. We know that many operators have taken various approaches to exemptions and helping their passengers who do not require a face covering. To supplement this, an asset has been created by the DfT in collaboration with various charity organisations to allow people who are exempt to demonstrate their exemption. You can find more details here. Materials can be printed or downloaded and we expect some people to use it when demonstrating their exemption in shops and when using public transport.

Treat transport staff with respect and follow instructions from your transport operator. This may include:

• notices about which seats to use or how to queue
• additional screens, barriers or floor markings
• requests to board through different doors or to move to less busy areas

Seek assistance if you need it

If you require assistance when travelling, contact your transport operator as you would normally do. Assistance is still being provided, but bus operators may be providing it in a different way. To find out who runs your bus service and their contact/website details, please use the search on this page.

If any problems arise or you feel ill during your journey, speak to a member of transport staff. In the case of an emergency, contact the emergency services as you normally would.

If you need help, try to keep a suitable distance from members of staff. If this isn’t possible, try to avoid physical contact and keep the time you spend near staff as short as possible.

Other things to consider:

• Travel may take longer than normal on some routes. Allow sufficient time if your journey involves changes between different forms of transport.
• Plan ahead by identifying alternative routes and options in case of unexpected disruption.
• Where possible, book your travel online through your transport provider’s ticketing app or website.
• Taking a less busy route and reducing the number of changes (for example between bus and train) will help you keep your distance from others.
• Where travel with children is necessary, consider whether children could walk or cycle, accompanied by a responsible adult or carer, where appropriate. Social distancing applies to children as well as adults.

When car sharing, you should only travel in groups of no more than 6 people, or 2 households, unless you are travelling for a reason that is exempt.

You can protect yourself and those you are sharing a car with by:

• sharing the car with the same people each time and, where possible, only with members of your household or support bubble
• minimising the group size at any one time
• opening windows for ventilation
• travelling side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them, where seating arrangements allow
• facing away from each other
• considering seating arrangements to maximise distance between people in the vehicle
• cleaning your car between journeys using standard cleaning products – make sure you clean door handles and other areas that people may touch
• asking the driver and passengers to wear a face covering

On your journey

Expect more pedestrians and cyclists, especially at peak times of day. Where possible, allow other road users to maintain social distancing. For example, give cyclists space at traffic lights.

At garages, petrol stations and motorway services, try to keep your distance from other people and, if possible, pay by contactless. Follow guidance on the use of face coverings. Where possible, check in using the NHS COVID-19 app if you enter a venue that has an official NHS COVID-19 QR code poster at the entrance. Alternatively, you can provide your contact details.

Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or sanitise your hands often, and always when exiting or re-entering your vehicle.

If you are travelling by taxi, aside from the driver, you should avoid sharing vehicles with someone from outside your household or your support bubble, wherever possible. You can only travel in a group of 6, or up to 2 households in a taxi or private hire vehicle, unless you are travelling for a reason that is exempt.

Even after you have received a vaccine, you should continue to apply safety measures, by wearing a face covering and adhering to social distancing guidance, when using taxis or private hire vehicles.

You must wear a face covering when using taxis or private hire vehicles. You will be breaking the law if you fail to do so and could be fined. A taxi driver or private hire vehicle operator will be entitled to refuse to accept you if you do not wear a face covering, unless you are exempt from this requirement.

You should stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre while wearing a face covering.

Follow the advice of the operator and driver. For example, you may be asked to sit in the back left-hand seat if travelling alone. You may want to check with your taxi or private hire operator before travelling if they have put any additional measures in place.

You should use contactless payment if possible, or find out if you can pay online in advance.

Be aware of the surfaces you touch. Be careful not to touch your face. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the inside of your elbow when coughing or sneezing.

When finishing your journey, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or sanitise your hands as soon as possible.

How are you keeping passengers safe at bus stops and buses?

Bus services are operated by commercial operators, all of them are carrying out extra cleaning of their buses. Some bus operators may be providing hand sanitiser on board. If you’d like more information, find out who runs your bus service and their contact/website details.

Bus stops are managed by Local Authorities, however, we have been working closely with them to install posters at bus stops with safe travel guidance such as wearing face coverings and social distancing.

What happens if the last service of the day is full?

We advise you to travel before the last service of the day, if you can.

If you must travel on the last service, please contact the bus operator in advance to find out if they have any processes in place. Find out who runs your bus service and their contact/website details.

Can I pay with cash on the bus?

We are encouraging everyone to pay by contactless if they can. Most services will be accepting cash on board, but to minimise risk of transmission please use the correct change. Contact the bus operator in advance to check if they’re accepting cash on their service. Find out who runs your bus service and their contact/website details.

I have more questions about bus services, how can I contact you? What are your opening times?

For any bus service queries, please contact the bus operator or visit their website. Find out who runs your bus service and their contact/website details.

• Find bus operators contact details

Two major bus operators in the West of England have launched an update to their mobile apps which allows passengers to see live locations and capacity for their buses.

For more information, and links to download their apps, please visit the following pages (external):

• First Bus App (it also shows if the wheelchair space is occupied)
• Stagecoach Bus App

Our Routes & Timetables page has current and upcoming timetables for the majority of services. Where timetables are not available on our website, please check with the operator.

If you prefer, below are direct links to where two of the major operators in the West of England are hosting their timetables:

• Routes & Timetables on Travelwest
• First Bus: Coronavirus service information for the West of England
• Stagecoach West: Coronavirus service information for Bristol & South Gloucestershire