Agenda item

Tim Bowyer, of Nottingham City Council Public Transport, gave a presentation on the EasyLink accessible bus service for Nottingham City, highlighted the following points:

(a)  EasyLink is the new door-to-door accessible bus service from Nottingham City Council, replacing the Dial-a-Ride service, as that had quite a few barriers to use;

(b)  6 brand new fully accessible vehicles have been introduced, including a full flat rear lift. The service is available for anyone who who lives in the Greater Nottingham area who struggles to use public transport, not just the elderly and disabled;

(c)  the service is door to door, anywhere within a 10 mile radius of the city centre. Drivers are fully trained to help passengers. Escorts or carers travel free of charge;

(d)  if you have a Nottingham City Council Mobility Citycard you can book straight away. For all other users it’s a simple application form. People can also apply online, and there’s no longer a fee to join;

(e)  the service can now be booked in advance – up to 7 days in advance for a single trip, 6 weeks in advance for block bookings, or 3 months in advance for medical appointments;

(f)  a new booking system has been introduced, including new telephone systems, an online booking system, email and text based booking;

(g)  the fares no longer operate on a zonal system, they work on distance as the crow flies, with the cheapest fare (up to 1 mile) £1.50 for a concessionary pass holder, or £3.00 for a full fare;

(h)  the Public Transport team want to promote the new scheme within the community. Leaflets and posters are available (including in accessible formats), there is information on the website. A vehicle can be brought along to any planned events to show potential users.

There were questions and comments from the Committee:

(i)  the service covers great Nottingham, as the partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council is extended. The area covered also nearly matches the Nottingham City Transit area;

(j)  one of the barriers to use of the old Dial-a-Ride service was the perception that it was old fashioned, clunky, and felt like a charity. The new service feels much more modern and sleek, and feels less like a charity, so people who don’t perceive themselves as in need of this help may be more willing to access it. It is being particularly promoted to younger people, in the hope of changes these perceptions;

(k)  all payments are made to the driver. Even at the higher end of the price range, users are reporting significant savings over having to use taxis instead;

(l)  there is no intention to introduce discounts for booking in advance, as capacity is not an issue at the moment. It may also lead to confusion with the pricing structure;

(m)  demand has increased significantly over the old service. The full public launch is taking place in March 2016, and has received good press coverage.

RESOLVED to note the information and thank Tim for the presentation.