Sleep Bus

It’s hard to think of the bus as anything more than the work horse of public transport, but Simon Rowe has re-imagined it as mobile shelter for the homeless.

After finding himself homeless for a brief period, Rowe found it impossible to turn a blind eye to those sleeping rough.

With first-hand experience of how a good night’s sleep can improve both physical and mental health, and as a complementary measure to the existing efforts by other organisations, Rowe developed the Sleep Bus.

The converted bus design includes 22 individual sleep pods, two loos, twenty-two personal items lockers, under bus storage, eight pet kennels, security system, lighting system inside & out and intercom system for family sleep pods with parental control locks.

Each bus costs the equivalent of £25,000 to buy and build and can provide 8,030 safe sleeps per year. Crucially, the bus can move quickly to areas that need it most.

If the campaign proves successful, it’s an idea that could prove popular in major cities the world over.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.