A mural created by local school children from St Nicholas Primary School, in Exeter, has been unveiled at Honiton Road Park and Ride to celebrate the completion of recent improvements of the site.
Designed using the theme ‘Greener Futures’, students in year five were asked to share their ideas about the future of buses and the environment in Exeter ahead of the arrival of the new fleet of electric buses later this year through the Devon Bus Enhanced Partnership.
The unveiling of the mural by Devon County Council and Stagecoach comes after recent work at the park and ride site, which we’ve delivered with support from Exeter City Council.
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said:
“A number of improvements have been made at Honiton Road Park and Ride including the introduction of a long-stay parking area, new shelters and real-time bus information display, which is due to be installed soon. All of these changes will make bus travel a better experience for passengers, and this lovely mural by the pupils at St Nicholas Primary School is an excellent way to mark these improvements. It also gives us a bit of an insight into the children’s view of the future. Zero emission transport has a huge role to play in reducing carbon emissions for future generations, so we’re looking forward to the arrival of electric buses in Devon.”
Peter Knight, Managing Director at Stagecoach, said: “We’re proud to work with local schools and communities to highlight the positive impact that sustainable travel can make. Children are our future and it’s inspiring to see future of transport and the environment through their eyes. This unveiling is just one example of how our partnership with Devon County Council will allow us to work together to deliver projects that make a difference in the region.”
The first wave of electric buses are expected to arrive later this year, marking a major milestone for Stagecoach and us, as we were instrumental in securing the initial Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) funding from the Department for Transport (DFT) in March 2024.
The zero-emission buses, which will operate across Exeter including the flagship 4 Service will reduce emissions, support the city’s sustainability and net zero goals, and offer a cleaner way to travel.
The new state-of-the-art buses will improve the passenger experience, providing users with considerably quieter, smoother, and more comfortable journeys. They will also meet Enhanced Accessibility Standards and will come with the latest passenger experience features.