PickMeUp DRT hits 25,000 journey milestone
More than 25,000 journeys have been made on PickMeUp, Carousel Buses’ ride-sharing service since it launched in High Wycombe.
The landmark has been achieved five months after the demand responsive transport (DRT) service was launched using funding from Buckinghamshire Council via the Government’s Rural Mobility Fund.
Go-Ahead-owned Carousel Buses also confirmed there have been more than 5,000 sign-ups to the PickMeUp app.
PickMeUp enables passengers in High Wycombe to summon minibuses 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.
“Thanks to the strong response from the public to PickMeUp we have ordered additional vehicles which we hope to add to the fleet over the coming months” – Luke Marion, Carousel Buses Managing Director
Luke Marion, Carousel Buses Managing Director, said: “To break the 25,000 passengers journey barrier is a fantastic milestone for an innovative service that is new to the area.
“We’ve experienced a highly positive response to the service, with more than 5,000 people in the area now having signed up. Thanks to the strong response from the public to PickMeUp we have ordered additional vehicles which we hope to add to the fleet over the coming months to maintain our quality of service and allow for further passenger growth.
“The success to date of PickMeUp in High Wycombe 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. While there is a comprehensive existing bus network in the town, there are some areas the main buses can’t serve, due to location, demand for the bus, or the size of the vehicle and PickMeUp helps serve that gap.”
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.
Mercedes-Benz minibuses with Wi-Fi, USB charging points, wheelchair access and comfortable high-back seating are used to deliver the service. The front-end and back-end technology for the service was developed in partnership with ride-sharing technology specialist Via.