OXFORD BUS COMPANY REVEAL THOUSANDS OF ITEMS LOST BY PASSENGERS

The Oxford Bus Company has revealed the unusual items which were left on services by passengers last year.

Among the items left on buses and coaches in 2020 were a pair of Bermuda shorts, a novelty animal head, a Superman onesie and a pumpkin. During the COVID-19 pandemic face masks joined the ranks of the most common items left on vehicles along with mobile phones and umbrellas.

Staff at the Oxford Bus Company customer services department recorded 1,920 lost items in 2020. Passengers reported 1028 items lost and 328 items were returned. The volume of lost items was around two-thirds lower than the previous year due to the reduction in passenger numbers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019 Oxford Bus Company became the first bus operator in the UK to use new technology to make it easier for passengers to be reunited with their lost belongings. The innovative NotLost platform enables Oxford Bus Company to digitally log misplaced items quickly and the system helps match them to the rightful owner.

Passengers who reclaim items pay a £1 administration and storage fee for the return of their belongings to help towards costs. There is also a postal service available for returns. Unrecovered items are donated to local charities, or safely disposed of. The novelty animal head was not reclaimed, while the Bermuda shorts and Superman onesie were.

Andy Morison, Head of Customer Experience at Oxford Bus Company said: “Misplacing a personal item is often a stressful experience and so we use technology to make it easier to reunite belongings with their owners.

“We have highlighted some of the unusual items that are left on our bus and coach network to remind people that lost items are kept and can be reunited with their owners, so it is always worth checking.”

Alex Horne, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of NotLost, said: “We’re proud to be working with Oxford Bus Company in their on-going commitment to delivering excellent passenger experience.”

Oxford Bus Company provides extensive bus routes in Oxford City and Abingdon, luxury coach services to Heathrow and Gatwick, the BROOKESBus service, in partnership with Oxford Brookes University, and the prestigious park&ride service which connects five car parks to the city. Plus, City Sightseeing Oxford the hop-on, the hop-off open topped bus tours of Oxford.

The NotLost platform combines various features including image recognition and powerful search functionality with a simple, intuitive interface, transforming the way lost property is managed.

Oxford Bus Company has previously revealed lost items in recent years which have included a light saber, a fireman’s hat, vampire teeth, a Soviet Union hat, a letter detailing sexual fantasies, a Donald Trump toilet roll and a giant tent.