Flexible help is on its way
Warwickshire County Council is adding five more Flexibus services in the county to try and ensure as many people as possible can easily take advantage of public transport.
Flexibus is the name of the council’s scheme of wheelchair accessible bus services, and different operators using the buses run these on behalf of the council.
Flexibus services are open to everyone, but are particularly helpful to people with mobility problems. To help people who find steps difficult or impossible, the bus is equipped with an electric lift to help passengers on board.
There are almost 50 Flexibus routes in the county, taking people from both rural and some urban areas into nearby town centres and providing people with the opportunity to visit the local supermarket or high street to undertake their personal business without having to rely on other people.
Although all the routes have a fixed destination point and certain specific boarding points, the buses can divert off route to collect people with mobility problems – you don’t have to be a wheelchair user – from their homes. This has to be pre-booked with the operator before 9am on the day of travel. Fares on Flexibus are no more expensive than conventional bus services.
Cllr Martin Heatley, the county council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “The new vehicles were purchased because we wanted the ‘Flexibus’ experience to be more widely available to people. I’m delighted that the new vehicles will now be operating in areas of Bedworth, Rugby and Stratford.
“There is no doubting the success of this scheme, it has been praised by the Government, various associations representing different disabilities and most importantly the people that use it. Flexibus has become an essential part of life for many mobility impaired people and is highly valued.”
Details of most Flexibus services can be obtained from the main operator the A & M Group on freephone 0500 21 22 25. The other operator is A-Line Travel who provide some services in south Warwickshire. Their telephone number is 02476 450808. Full details of Flexibus services are available at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/publictransport.