Carousel’s DRT hits 10,000 journey milestone
Carousel Buses’ PickMeUp demand responsive transport (DRT) service has made 10,000 journeys since its launch ten weeks ago.
Operating in High Wycombe, PickMeUp is made possible with to funding from Buckinghamshire Council via the government’s Rural Mobility Fund.
Users of the service can summon minibuses via an app to pick them up at a ‘virtual bus stop’ of their choice, to go to a bespoke destination. A telephone booking service is available for those who want to use the service but are not able to use a smartphone.
“To break the 10,000 passengers journey barrier ahead of schedule is a great landmark achievement” – Luke Marion, Carousel Buses Interim Managing Director
Luke Marion, Carousel Buses Interim Managing Director, said: “To break the 10,000 passengers journey barrier ahead of schedule is a great landmark achievement. We’ve experienced a highly positive response to the service, with more than 3,400 people in the area having signed up already. We believe it further demonstrates demand responsive transport can play a key role in helping improve air quality and traffic congestion in the UK in conjunction with traditional bus services.”
“We believe on-demand services could fill gaps on the fringes of towns and cities which aren’t always well served by traditional, fixed bus routes” – Mark Anderson, Customer and Commercial Director at The Go-Ahead Group
Mark Anderson, Customer and Commercial Director at The Go-Ahead Group (Carousel Buses’ parent company), said: “It’s fantastic to see this on-demand service proving so popular. Go-Ahead operates buses up and down the country and we’re keen to use new technology to make our services as convenient as possible for passengers. We believe on-demand services could fill gaps on the fringes of towns and cities which aren’t always well served by traditional, fixed bus routes.”
PickMeUp operates Monday to Friday in High Wycombe between 6am and 7pm. Trips costs between £2 and £3.50 depending on the distance travelled, in line with local bus services.
I wonder what has made this one break the DRT mould and actually be a success?