An on-demand bus service that allows users to choose when and where they want to travel, will be piloted in the Ripon, Bedale and Masham area from 1st July by North Yorkshire Council
YorBus will be run by the council and will allow users to book via a dedicated app, which will be available to download from 28 June. The app has been created by Via, the leader in TransitTech.
YorBus is a demand responsive transport (DRT) service that allows passengers to book a ride on-demand, anywhere within operating area. Once a desired pickup and drop-off location has been selected, riders will be directed to a nearby bus stop for quick and efficient pooled rides that reduce detours and also carbon emissions.
YorBus will complement and extend the existing public transport network in the region. The mobile app allows passengers to plan and track their bus journey. It also enables them to track the bus while waiting for its arrival and to track how the journey is going while on the bus.
County Councillor Don MacKenzie, Executive Member for Access, stated: “The YorBus project is intended to provide transport to help people to travel to work, to go shopping, to attend medical appointments and to access other services, which they need. We hope it will offer a viable and affordable alternative to the private motor car.”
“The flexibility of the scheme also means that a high proportion of seats on buses will be occupied on every journey, which will lead to better value for money and greater environmental benefits too.”
The service will run from 6.55am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am-6pm on Saturdays. There will be a flat fare for using the service; £1.20 for adults and 65p for children between the ages of 5-17. Customers can choose to pay through the app or on the bus. Children under 5 can travel for free and concessionary bus passes can be used on the service, subject to existing Terms and Conditions.
In addition, YorBus is fully accessible, with low floor access and a ramp access for users of wheelchairs, pushchairs and those with mobility difficulties.
To promote the launch of YorBus, North Yorkshire County Council are running roadshows to speak to residents about the service.
Via works with more than 200 partners across the globe and in the UK, including Transport for Wales, Milton Keynes Council, Stagecoach, and Go-Coach to power flexible, technology-enabled solutions that increase efficiency, reduce operational cost, and expand access to public transport.
