The county's on demand buses have has hit a major milestone since launching three years ago.

Since the service began, 50,000 journeys have been completed in Bromsgrove and Malvern, where Worcestershire's on demand buses operate six days a week.

Replacing the traditional route-based bus services, it was first piloted in Bromsgrove in July 2021, before expanding to serve areas in the south of the Malvern Hills District last year.

 

 

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Unlike conventional bus services, the on demand service offers a bespoke approach.

Rather than operating on fixed routes and timetables, passengers can request journeys via the Worcestershire on Demand app and be collected within a short distance of their location.

They may be required to take a short walk to a pick-up points to maximise route efficiency, eliminate lengthy detours and emulate journey times in a private car.

This new approach seeks to blend the convenience of private car travel with the affordability and sustainability of public transport.

Councillor Mike Rouse, the cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transport at Worcestershire County Council said: "It’s been great to see the services grow in both Bromsgrove and Malvern, with each and every one of the 50,000 trips providing much needed support to residents.

"On demand transport provides a sustainable and efficient way of getting around and is a key part of our mission to enhance and secure bus travel in Worcestershire."

Currently, on demand buses run between 7am and 7pm, from Monday to Saturday.

They operate on a flat fare basis, costing £2.50 per person, with additional passengers paying £1.25.

Concessionary cards are accepted, and ticket bundles are also available.

The service will further extend later this year, with plans to cover Evesham and Pershore.

To use the on demand service, passengers need to download the Worcestershire on Demand app, which is available on the Apple App Store and Google Pay Store and has been downloaded over 5,000 times already.

Once downloaded, passengers can pick their desired locations and the app will direct them to a nearby 'virtual bus stop' for efficient pick-up and drop-off.

For more information about the service, residents can visit Worcestershire County Council's website (www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/travel-and-highways/bus-travel-worcestershire/worcestershire-demand).