First Bus has responded to government advice to enable social distancing on public transport with immediate effect .

Buses will be operating at a reduced capacity with around one in four seats being available. The Government has advised that people only make essential journeys and where possible travel off peak to avoid busy times, but you still may see ‘Bus Full’ signs as some services reach their revised capacity more quickly.

Occasionally a bus may not stop, most likely as it has reached its reduced seating capacity. If the bus does stop, but is near capacity, the driver will only allow one person to board for every person that gets off, so you may need to allow extra time for your journey and be prepared to wait.

In addition, you will also see further measures in place to help enable you to comply with social distancing guidelines. These include:

• New capacity signs by the entrance of each bus
• Seat signs and stickers to clearly show where you should and shouldn’t sit to maintain a safe distance
• Reminders to be considerate of other passengers
• No longer allowing standing

What can you do to stay safe?

You can help by changing your behaviour in line with the reduced capacity. This might include:

• Only travelling by bus if your journey is essential
• Planning your travel in advance, avoiding peak periods
• Wearing a face covering when on board
• Sitting in a window seat, leaving an empty row of seats in front and behind
• On our double deckers, consider sitting upstairs (if you are able)
• Paying with contactless or purchasing your ticket in advance on our App
• Using the correct change if you must pay by cash
• No longer eating or drinking whilst on board
• Leaving windows open to aid ventilation
• Keeping you informed and updated

For updated information, see https://www.firstgroup.com/essex