Rural Transport Scheme improved

A unique rural transport scheme meeting the travelling needs of people living in some remote areas of south Cumbria has just got better. 

Rural Wheels is a pilot project that offers a door-to-door transport service, taking people where they want to be, when they want to go and at a reasonable cost. Until recently users had to give three days notice before they wanted to travel but now they only need give 24 hours. 

Councillor Kevan Wilkinson, County Council spokesman for transport, said:   

“The Rural Wheels pilot project has only been up and running for a few months and in that time it has been warmly welcomed by those living in the project area. We are learning all the time about what people want, what works and what doesn’t work and that’s why we have reduced the notice that must be given. Some notice has to be given to enable the vehicles and the drivers to be set up but people didn’t always know where they wanted to go three days in advance. We hope that reducing this to one day will help local people. 

Rural Wheels is a ground-breaking initiative which aims to reduce social exclusion by meeting the transport needs of people living in rural areas, where access to transport can often be a problem. People are using the service for a host of different reasons from going to the doctors, to doing some shopping or visiting friends. If this pilot project is a success, we hope to extend it into other areas in Cumbria.” 

Rural Wheels, which was launched last November, combines the use of various forms of transport, including minibuses, taxis and voluntary car schemes and uses smart cards, which users can top up with points to pay for journeys. Points can be bought from most libraries and post offices and other outlets, which also have information on how to register with the scheme. Users are charged 30p per mile and can use the service for two return journeys a week, at any time between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. 

The project is a partnership initiative involving Cumbria County Council, the Countryside Agency, Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust and Help the Aged, with support and encouragement from South Lakeland District Council, parish councils and other bodies. 

The scheme operates in 16 parishes in South Lakeland, from Coniston and Hawkeshead to Lower Holker and Lower Armithawite. All journeys must be within those parishes with Ulverston being the only destination outside them. Anyone interested in making use of the scheme should contact Luke Vose on 01228 606721.