Could you be a bus buddy?
Telford and Wrekin Council is looking for volunteers, willing to ditch their cars in favour of one if its new bus services.
The council recently funded several new bus routes and is looking to recruit four ‘Bus Buddies’ to give the new services a go and share their first-hand experiences.
Rural areas, schools, and some key routes to work now have dedicated services to help people get about in an affordable and reliable way. While the new services only cover certain areas, the council is urging people that can, to ‘Get back on the Bus’.
Councillor Lee Carter (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for place (the economy & neighbourhood services) said: “By making buses more accessible we’re creating affordable transport connecting people to jobs, families and essential services like the hospital and supporting people with the cost of living.
“How we choose to travel to the office, or even to pop to the shops, is one of the biggest day-to-day climate decisions we face. We’re also hoping that a cheaper alternative will encourage people to take the bus and help reduce the number of cars on the road, and in turn our carbon emissions too.
“If you don’t want to be a bus buddy, give the bus a go, even if it’s just for one journey a week. We think you’ll be surprised at how much you could save.”
There are seven new services including the Express 100, helping people get to work on major industrial estates, Wellington and the Princess Royal Hospital as well as direct transport for pupils to Telford Priory School and after school sessions too.
The 101 means pupils attending Charlton, Ercall Wood, Telford Langley schools along with Telford College and Lawley academy can get to school and home for just £2 a day – or even cheaper with a pass.
The service is also available for wider public use connecting people from Madeley, then Dawley, Lawley before travelling on to Wellington and the Princess Royal Hospital.
The services 102 to 105 cover the rural areas of north Telford and Wrekin, helping people in smaller villages connect with the Princess Royal Hospital and Newport and Wellington interchanges and wider routes.
The 99 service is the latest one introduced to minimise the impact of reduced Arriva services and covers Admaston, Dothill, Hadley, Ketley Bank, Malinslee, Overdale, Telford Town Centre and Wellington.
Fares on council buses are capped at a maximum of £2 per single journey for adults (£1 for U16s). The £2 capped fare is also operating on Arriva bus services too until October 30 through government funding. Concessions still apply to all the council services and other costs for tickets include
Day tickets adults £4, child (under19) £2
Weekly tickets for seven days cost £15/£7.50
Season tickets (28 days) £50/£27.50
Annual costs £500/£275
If you would like to be a bus buddy, email the team at transport@telford.gov.uk
You’ll have an opportunity to meet the team, share your experiences and play an active role in helping shape bus services.
For full details of the council’s new routes, visit the website at www.Telford.gov.uk/busback
