Council launches on-demand flexible bus service for villages around Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire Council is delighted to announce a partnership with WeMove and technology partner Padam to introduce an on-demand flexible bus service for some villages surrounding Aylesbury – linking them with the town and wider transport connections.
This service will better connect the communities of Aston Clinton, Bishopstone, Halton, Hartwell, Hulcott, Stoke Mandeville, Weedon and Weston Turville.
The new service, called ‘Village Connect: Aylesbury’, will complement the local bus network providing a service for those who cannot easily access existing bus services or those who prefer to leave their car at home. Passengers can book a journey online in advance, using an app or by telephone, and the bus will pick them up at an agreed time and location nearby. Alternatively, the bus can be booked in real time for a pick up within 30-60 minutes.
The service will operate from Monday to Friday between the hours of 6am to 7pm. Journeys will cost between £2.50 and £4.50 with Concessionary Bus Passes accepted for free travel after 9am.
The service is partly funded for 3 years by the Department for Transport’s Rural Mobility Fund, with further financial support coming from local developer funding.
Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport said:
“This on-demand flexible bus service will enable better connections in, to and out of the urban centre of Aylesbury and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, as well as supporting onward journeys using other public transport services. The Village Connect service is accessible and user-friendly and provides flexibility to meet users’ individual needs. I am pleased that it will enhance the local public transport network, and hopefully encourage more people to travel by bus.”
In line with the council’s environmental goals, the service uses routing technology, helping to contribute to a reduction in traffic congestion and pollution. By choosing the Village Connect service passengers will be part of the journey towards a more sustainable future.