A WHOLE new meaning is being given to the phrase ‘queue jumping’ as a campaign starts to get people exercising at bus stops.

Passengers travelling on the X41 bus service, The Lancashire Way, operating between Blackburn and Manchester city centre via Oswaldtwistle, Church Accrington, Haslingden and Helmshore, are being urged to work out while they wait for the bus.

As part of the campaign, leaflets and posters have been distributed between Accrington and Helmshore, featuring six easy-to-do, Pilates-style positions and movements, designed to improve posture, alignment, strength and flexibility.

Passengers balancing on one leg, circling, pointing and flexing ankles or simply standing tall, with shoulders back and buttocks in, are told not to feel self-conscious as the movements are discreet.

‘Every Stop Helps’ is being promoted by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) Institute of Transport and Tourism, Lancashire County Council, the University of Salford and bus company Transdev-Lancashire United.

“We’ve chosen this route as it’s used by a mixture of people with a range of abilities. None of the exercises are too strenuous so everyone can have a go,” said Lynne Gaskell, a physiotherapy lecturer from Salford University.

The scheme is part of the Urban Regeneration ‘Make a Difference’ project, funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

Les Lumsdon, director of the Institute of Transport and Tourism at UCLan said: “The response from passengers has been very positive.

“Many people have busy lives and struggle to fit regular work-outs into their day.

“Moderate walking and gentle exercise can reduce the risk of cardio-vascular disease, diabetes and cancer in women, as well as being a useful intervention for weight loss.

“We’re giving people the information needed so they can choose to add value to the time spent using public transport.

“Eventually we’d like to see ‘Every Stop Helps’ extended to other bus routes and train journeys.”

Commercial development director for Transdev Burnley and Pendle, David Wilson, said: “The initiative has highlighted the advantages of taking a walk from home to the bus stop and from the bus stop to your destination.

“The health benefits of this walk time need to be promoted to public-transport users and non-users so that they do not consider it to be wasted time."