redBus Introduces Safety+!
India has entered its fifth phase of COVID-19 lockdown, which many are referring to as Unlock 1.0. As intrastate and interstate travel has started after an announcement made by the Central Government of India and mutual consent by the respective state governments, redBus decided to come up with a solution called Safety+, a safety measure that’s followed on many buses to ensure safe travel and prevention of COVID-19. After spending a significant amount of time and research, redBus has launched its Safety+ program where most buses are going to follow the social distancing norms, preventive measures such as wearing masks and sanitizer-equipped buses. The following are the key highlights of redBus’ Safety+ program.
Measures Taken By Bus Operators
Every bus operator who’s following the Safety+ norms are required to have the following features:
Masks for Bus Staff: According to the Safety+ guidelines, every person who’s part of the crew on a bus is required to wear masks that meet the Ministry of Health’s medical standards. This is followed throughout the bus journey.
Sanitization of Buses: Safety+ buses undergo a rigorous cleaning and disinfection process after completing a trip.
Linens and Blankets: Though a part of the amenities provided by a bus operator, linens and blankets will not be provided on the journey. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own linens, a shawl, or any clean piece of clothing to keep them comfortable during the trip.
Regular Temperature Checks: Bus operators have been directed to conduct regular temperature checks of their staff. Passengers might also go through a temperature check before boarding a bus.
Hand Sanitisers: Hand sanitizers will be available on every bus. Passengers are advised to carry a hand sanitizer of their own as well.
Measures To Be Followed By Passengers
In addition to preventive measures taken by bus operators, given below are some of the precautions that the passengers should follow before boarding the bus and during the journey:
Compulsory Masks for all travelers: All passengers boarding the bus must compulsorily bring their own masks and wear them throughout the trip. Passengers must wear proper masks as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines. Handkerchiefs and other cloth items will not be permitted as masks. Customers without proper masks will not be allowed to board the bus.
Do not travel with Symptoms: Passengers are advised to refrain from traveling if they show COVID-19 symptoms. Passengers with symptoms will not be allowed to board the bus and would be deboarded at the closest boarding point if symptoms are noticed during the trip.
Carry your own blankets: In order to maintain proper hygiene, customers are requested to carry their own blankets and linens. These will not be provided by the bus operators.
In addition to these, buses with the Safety+ feature will follow social distancing norms in order to limit the physical proximity of the passengers. This includes a limited number of seats in the bus and automatic seat blocking to ensure a safe distance.
How to look for Safety+ Buses
One can find the Safety+ buses on the following pages and features of redBus.
redBus Home Page
As you land onto the redBus homepage, you will find the Safety+ banner which you will be able to learn more about the redBus Safety+ measures by clicking on the banner.
Search Screen
While searching for buses on a route, you will find the buses following the Safety+ guidelines marked with the Safety+ logo and tag on the search result page. Customers can also click on the Safety+ Card on top of the search results to filter these buses.
Bus Details
If you click for “more details” of a bus, you’ll learn about the Safety+ program.
E-ticket
After booking the bus ticket, your e-ticket will have the Safety+ guidelines, which you can take care of before boarding the bus. redBus customers will also receive a pre-journey email about 4 hours before the trip as a reminder for Safety+ guidelines and precautions that need to be taken.
While looking for a bus on your selected route, you can also filter the buses by applying Safety+ filter, which will soon be available among the redBus filters.
All the buses with Safety+ feature will not pass through any containment zones in the country. redBus has also been updating state-wise travel guidelines due to COVID-19, where you can learn more about interstate travel in India before booking your bus ticket. redBus also requests its customers to download the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile phones to keep track of the COVID-19 cases in the vicinity. The best way to prevent Coronavirus is to avoid exposure, and the redBus Safety+ feature is introduced only in order to save passengers from any form of exposure to the virus. redBus wishes you a happy and safe journey!