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New Kinds of Bus Service

The rural nature of Powys means that the car plays a large part in most people's daily lives, as it is difficult to provide public transport in a way that will meet people's needs to use it for everyday travel.However, new ways of delivering bus services are being trialled.

Curently in Wales, two new kinds of bus services are being trialled - Fflecsi Services and Bwcabus.

Fflecsi Services

Fflecsi is a scheme operated by Transport for Wales in partnership with local bus operators and councils, and replaces a number of scheduled bus services. 

Fflecsi is a bus service with a fixed start and end destination, but can adjust its route to pick up and drop off passengers anywhere within its fflecsi zone. Rather than passengers waiting at a bus stop for a bus to turn up, they can book a journey in advance using the fflecsi app, website, or over the phone. Passengers are given a pick-up point near their location and an arrival time for the bus.

Bwcabus 

Bwcabus is a flexible, bookable local bus service, designed to meet the needs of rural residents. The Bwcabus rural transportation model operates within a specific zone providing both fixed route services and pre-booked demand responsive journeys, allowing you the possibility to travel where and when you want.

The internet has helped by allowing many more people to both work from home and skip the daily commute, and to keep in touch with family and friends by video. For those living in the more rural areas of Powys who still need to travel, lower carbon public transport options are still being developed.

Public Transport

PUBLIC & COMMUNITY TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT

How does taking public transport help the environment? Public transport is reducing energy consumption and harmful carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions that damage the environment. Traveling by public transport emits a lot less carbon emissions than travelling by car. Many buses are being repl

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN WALES

Llwybr Newydd – the Wales Transport Strategy 2021, sets out a vision for the future of our transport system and bus services, encouraging people out of their cars and onto public transport. At its core are three priorities:

• Reduce the need to travel by bringing efficient services to people

• Allow people and goods to move easily by accessible, sustainable and efficient transport services and infrastructure; and

• Encourage people to use more sustainable modes of transport

With a target of 45 per cent of journeys to be made by public transport, walking and cycling by 2040, Llwybr Newydd commits the Welsh Government to reducing transport emissions as part of their efforts to tackle the climate emergency. It sets out the overall ambition that Wales needs a transport system that is good for its people, communities, the environment, the economy, and our culture. It also outlines a series of actions Llwybr Newydd: the Wales transport strategy 2021 | GOV.WALES

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN POWYS "I wish I could use the car less and have a convenient bus service instead" Public Transport in Powys is generally not at a level where it is a practical alternative to the car. A significant improvement in public transport would benefit the whole of society, socially, economically and environmentally, and would make Powys a much better connected place. Getting it to a level where it becomes a realistic choice is a big challenge, but there is potential to reduce significant mileage with some basic improvements. The Welsh Govt has produced an ambitious policy to make public transport in Wales "among the best in Europe". Bws Cymru connecting people with places Councils will soon be invited to draw up action plans to qualify for funding.

• Do we need better public transport in Powys?

• Could Powys become an innovative leader in Rural Transport?

• How do we get people to leave the car at home, and how would improved services be paid for? Local transport schemes open to all residents in the localities in which they operate. Provided by a permit (‘section 19/22’ ) as a not for profit service. The schemes offer slightly different options from the following:

• Dial A Ride: Annual membership fee and trip fares for pre-booked journeys fulfilling health and social criteria. Operate within locality of scheme only. Vehicles are usually accessible (with lifts and wheelchair access) and can be cars, vans or mini-buses

• Community Car Schemes: Journeys to hospitals and other health appointments across Powys, Wales and UK. Drivers are volunteers and are paid a mileage allowance, usually linked to the public sector rate (currently 45p a mile). Some schemes charge an additional booking fee.

• Non-Emergency Patient Transport: Contracted by Wales Ambulance Service Trust to provide free hospital transport, mostly for long-term conditions such as dialysis or cancer treatment. Drivers are usually volunteers.

• Taxi Card Schemes: Eligible members get reduced prices from local taxi firms.

• Social Trips and Community Mini-bus hire: Most schemes with mini-buses offer a variety of trips – shopping, leisure, cafés or cultural. They will also hire the minibus to local community organisations as long as they are not for profit and provide their own MiDAS or PSV trained driver. Several schemes now have electric vehicles.

 

 

Page last modified: 05 Sep 2023, 17:41