Westmorland and Furness Council is going The Extra Mile for rural communities with the launch of a new flexible, bookable bus service designed to improve access to public transport in areas where conventional bus services are limited or not viable.
The Extra Mile is a Digital Demand Responsive Transport (DDRT) service that allows passengers to book journeys when they need them, rather than relying on a fixed bus timetable or route.
Using an app or telephone booking service, passengers can request journeys within the operating area, and the system matches requests together to provide efficient shared transport. This means the bus travels where and when journeys are needed, helping connect rural communities with nearby towns and services.
The initial pilot scheme in and around Ulverston will go live on Monday 20 July, with a second scheme for Penrith due to start later this year. The service is intended to connect rural communities with Ulverston and surrounding key destinations. It will not be available for journeys entirely within Ulverston, where alternative public transport options already exist.
Watch the video explaining how the scheme works.
Funded through the Government's Rural Mobility Fund, the service is designed to help residents access employment, education, healthcare, shopping and leisure opportunities, providing greater flexibility for people who may not have access to regular public transport.
Passengers can book journeys through the app by selecting where they want to be picked up and their destination, and choosing either an “arrive by” or “leave after” time. The system then offers a suitable journey and notifies passengers when the vehicle is on its way. Return journeys can also be booked.
As a special introductory offer, all journeys will be free during the first two weeks of operation, until Sunday 2 August.
More information and details on how to download the app.
Cllr Adrian Waite, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Transport, said: “For too long, one of the biggest challenges facing rural communities has been simply getting from A to B. Whether it’s travelling to work, college, a medical appointment, the shops or meeting friends and family, a lack of transport can be a real barrier.
“The Extra Mile is about giving people more freedom and flexibility. Instead of expecting residents to fit around a fixed bus timetable, this service is designed to fit around people’s lives, providing transport where and when it is needed through simple app or telephone booking. It will help connect villages and rural communities with Ulverston and other key destinations, making it easier for people to access opportunities and services.
“Digital Demand Responsive Transport has the potential to be a game-changer for areas like ours. In a large and sparsely populated county, conventional bus services are not always practical, but innovative solutions such as The Extra Mile can help tackle isolation, improve connectivity and support more sustainable travel choices. We intend to follow the introduction of the service in Ulverston with the launch of a similar service in Penrith.
“I would encourage residents to take advantage of the free introductory period, give the service a try and see how it could make every day journeys easier.”
The area included in the Ulverston pilot scheme takes in the Furness peninsula down to Roa Island and Roose and from there an area roughly bordered by Stank, Newton-in-Furness, Askam, Kirkby, Foxfield, Duddon Bridge, Broughton Mills, Torver, Satterthwaite, Thwaite Head, Witherslack, Meathop, Grange and Flookburgh.
The service will operate between 7am and 7pm (Monday to Saturday) and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
Telephone booking will also be available between 9am and 3pm (Mon-Fri), ensuring the service is accessible to those who may not wish to use the app. Ring 0333 2406965 (choose option 2, then option 4).