Carousel Buses is celebrating the second anniversary of the launch of demand-responsive transport service PickMeUp in High Wycombe by announcing that 140,000 journeys have been undertaken.
Set up via the government’s Rural Mobility Fund, the three-year pilot programme is operated by eight vehicles and operates Monday to Friday from 0530-1930hrs.
The fleet has travelled a combined 768,000 kilometres and the service’s app has been downloaded 13,500 times. Carousel Buses boats a customer satisfaction rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 for the service.
The High Wycombe operation follows on from that of the same name run by sister company Oxford Bus Company for two years from 2018, which became the UK’s largest DRT service.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Carousel Buses, says: “To have achieved more than 140,000 journeys in the first two years of PickMeUp is a fantastic milestone.
“The adoption of demand-responsive transport in High Wycombe has been positive and we have developed the customer base steadily across the period. We’re now encouraging people to continue to support the service as it enters the final year of its pilot scheme.
“We’re pleased to have also received such positive customer feedback for the service, which provides people with an innovative and efficient way to travel outside of regular bus routes.
“Demand-responsive transport can play a key role helping improve air quality and congestion across the UK in conjunction with traditional bus services and the impact PickMeUp has had in High Wycombe is a shining example of what can be achieved.”
Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, adds: “We’re delighted with the success of the PickMeUp service in High Wycombe.
“With more than 400 active users each week totalling around 1,500 journeys – the service has truly become an integral part of our community’s transport network.”
