Rural communities in Allerdale, Copeland and Barrow will have a new way of getting around the county from next week thanks to Cumbria County Council’s subsidised Rural Wheels scheme.
From August 18th, the Rural Wheels scheme will be available across rural Barrow, Allerdale and Copeland, with transport available from 18 local transport operators approved to provide the service. The expansion into the three new districts means the service is now available right across rural Cumbria for the first time ever.
Rural Wheels is a demand response travel scheme run by the county council that allows people living in rural areas to book a ride in advance, get picked up from their home and travel to their nearest town or the nearest public transport service for 30 pence per mile. It is designed to help people in rural areas get around where scheduled bus and trains services are not accessible so they can reach services and link up with conventional transport services nearby.
The Rural Wheels scheme already operates successfully in other areas of the county, including Eden, rural Carlisle and South Lakeland.
Joining Rural Wheels is quick and easy. People simply fill out one of the short forms available at dozens of outlets around the county including libraries, mobile libraries, post offices and various newsagents and shops, parish councils and doctors’ surgeries. They can also request a form by ringing 01228 226721 or emailing publictransport@cumbriacc.gov.uk.
Once they return the form with a payment of £5, they will receive a credit card sized plastic smartcard with 500 points. That card can then be presented to the driver instead of cash. Each 30 points (30p) buys one mile of travel with the county council picking up the rest of the charge per mile. The smartcards contain an electronic chip that stores points and can be topped up at outlets around the area.
Anyone living in Allerdale, Copeland or Barrow outside the towns of Workington, Maryport, Barrow and Whitehaven is eligible to join the scheme. Children under five can travel for free, but anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult who holds a Rural Wheels card.
Trips must be arranged in advance. To book, people call the special journey planning service between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday on 0845 602 3786 two working days before they want to travel and make the arrangement. A maximum of two return journeys are available each week and the service operates between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
County Councillor Jim Buchanan, Cabinet member responsible for transport, said: "This is a key development for Rural Wheels as it is now available in rural areas across all six districts in the county. It provides a real alternative to people in rural areas who do not have access to a bus service but need to access essential services.
"Cumbria is a big county with big challenges in providing public transport. This demand-responsive service is a creative solution which can be far more cost-effective than us subsidising public buses. Rural Wheels has already proved popular with users elsewhere and we're confident that people in rural Barrow, Allerdale and Copeland will be signing up and enjoying its benefits."
ENDS
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 226332