March 16, 2021 (Bromsgrove, UK) -- A new on-demand public transport service is set to launch next month in Bromsgrove. The goal of the service is to reduce congestion and to provide improved public transport options for local residents. The service will expand access to affordable, efficient, and convenient transport without the need for a private vehicle.
The ‘Bromsgrove On-Demand’ service will enable people living within Bromsgrove and surrounding villages to access both on-demand and pre-booked rides anywhere within the service zone, including rides to-and-from the town centre, the train station, or nearby villages.
The service, which will be delivered in partnership with Via, the leader in TransitTech, is set to launch in late April. Rides will be booked through a mobile app and will operate from Monday to Saturday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Councillor Alan Amos, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways, said: “The County Council has worked closely with local district council colleagues and I’m really pleased that we’re nearing a position to launch this new flexible on demand transport service in Bromsgrove. “We’re continually monitoring current public transport usage and looking at new ways to help people travel around the county and this includes making use of the latest technology. We’re already making a number of improvements in Bromsgrove to reduce congestion and provide better transport options and this on demand service will help to enhance this even more.”
Using the mobile app, passengers will select a pickup and dropoff location within the service zone and confirm their ride. Once a ride is booked, Via’s advanced algorithms will enable multiple riders to seamlessly share the vehicle. The powerful technology will direct passengers to a nearby virtual bus stop within a short walking distance for pick up and drop off, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules.
Via’s technology is already being used by more than 200 cities and transport authorities across the globe and in the UK, including Transport for Wales (fflecsi), Milton Keynes Council (Via), Stagecoach (Tees Flex), Go-Coach (Go2), and Arriva (ArrivaClick).
The service is set to run for a trial period of 12 months. More information about the app, the cost, exact service zone, and who will operate the service will be made available closer to launch in April.