Instead of plugging in headphones or burying heads in books while travelling on public transport, people living in Wales are striking up conversations with strangers, according to research.
The study shows that 40 per cent in Wales have made long-lasting friendships with people they have met on the bus.
The research by First Bus, one of the UK’s largest bus operators, reveals surprisingly that despite being famous for their friendliness, the Welsh don’t make the top of the list, being pipped to the post by Londoners, who make the most friends (46 per cent) on the bus.
When asked how they would feel if the bus was no longer available for them to use, a quarter of Welsh people reveal they would experience feelings of isolation, which rises to 28 per cent for those living in Cardiff.
To celebrate the role the bus plays in connecting communities through conversation, TV personality and Bristolian, Josie Gibson, joined First Bus on a tour of her local area, reminiscing on how the bus played a key role in keeping her connected to her community.
She said: “The bus is the unsung hero within our local communities, so I’m not surprised to hear how many people are making long-lasting connections after a brief chinwag to the person sat next to them.”
First Bus is undergoing a huge transformation as a business, focusing on its passengers, and its people.