Will I need a mask on public transport in the East Midlands?
Covid restrictions ease on Monday
Last updated 15th Jul 2021
Covid restrictions will ease on Monday and companies that provide public transport in the UK will be able to implement their own mask policy.
This means that in some areas of the East Midlands there may be different rules on different buses in the same city depending on which company is providing the service.
Trentbarton run buses in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
Jeff Counsell, managing director at trentbarton, said: “There is no evidence to suggest that public transport is any less safe than other indoor venues such as shops, supermarkets and restaurants.
“We will therefore be adopting a similar approach to retailers and supporting individuals’ personal choices. We will support customers who wish to continue wearing a face covering, especially at busier times. When the buses are not so busy, we will also support customers’ individual choices not to wear a mask.
“Our team will continue to have a stock of face coverings on board that can be offered to anyone wishing to wear one.
“We will continue with the other measures we have long had in place to minimise any potential transmission of the virus, including our enhanced and robust multi-step cleaning regime which has additional in-service cleans throughout each day. Each bus will also continue to receive a disinfectant fogging every night.
“Customers can continue to support our drivers and fellow customers by using the hand sanitiser provided and by paying using mango or contactless cards and devices. Anyone with coronavirus symptoms should stay at home and not travel.”
Until Monday, trentbarton is requesting that its customers continue to wear face coverings on its services as the current rules remain in place.
The company have also provided advice, including a timetable of quieter travel times, here https://www.trentbarton.co.uk/coronavirus.
Elsewhere Nottingham Express Transit say they'll be encouraging customers to wear masks on their trams. A NET spokesman said: “Throughout the pandemic we have followed government guidance and will continue to do so. As it will no longer be a legal requirement to wear a face covering from Monday (July 19) we will be updating signage on board trams and at stops.
“However, in line with many other transport operators, we strongly encourage customers to show respect and consideration for others around them when travelling by continuing to wear a face covering (unless they were exempt under the previous rules), particularly on busy trams.
“This message will be reflected in new signage across the network, on the NET website and through our social media channels.”
Meanwhile Nottinghamshire County council have said that they will be promoting the Government message which recommends "people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport".
Councils don't have any control over the mask policies on transport companies in their area.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council said: “We’ll be encouraging transport operators to follow the Government line of expecting and recommending that people wear a mask in crowded areas, such as on buses and trains. If individual operators choose to mandate mask-wearing, we’ll support them in exercising that stance.”
We've contacted public transport companies and local authorities across the region and this article will be updated with information as soon as those groups have made their mask policy clear.