Rural Wheels, the pioneering scheme for serving the transport needs of people in rural areas in South Lakeland has been extended to the north of the county.
Rural Wheels has been running since 2002. The scheme, which receives funding from Cumbria County Council the Countryside Agency and the Department for Transport, is now available to people living in all 30 Carlisle parishes.
County councillor Kevan Wilkinson, cabinet spokesman for transport said:
"We need to come up with new and innovative ideas like this to give people in our rural areas the means to get around the county. Cumbria County Council is committed to social inclusion and the support of rural transport schemes. I look forward to seeing the Rural Wheels scheme taking off around Carlisle."
Rural Wheels uses a number of different transport providers. People are issued with a smart card and a telephone number to request transport up to 24 hours ahead. Users do not need cash. They buy points (30p a mile) at several outlets in the area, including libraries and post offices, to pay for the transport. It aims to provide a highly flexible ‘door-to-door’ service using a combination of various modes of transport at a reasonable cost.
More information about Rural Wheels is available from the county council's rural wheels co-ordinator on 01228 606721.