WECA Mayor unveils new WESTlink public transport
The dial-a-ride minibus service aims to connect quieter communities to major bus routes
A new form of public transport has been unveiled today (March 16), that's due to launch across the Bristol and Bath area next month.
West of England Mayor Dan Norris is bringing in the WESTlink network of bookable minibuses to take people from where there aren't proper bus routes, to places where there are.
The Labour man has been to take a look at the first minibuses to be covered in the network's livery, saying the idea of such "tailor-made travel" is "new for everyone".
"I am really pleased to see the first WESTlink bus, which is going into service from April and rolling out thereafter.
"I hope WESTlinks become a familiar and welcome sight across our region.
"We will be adding more and more until we reach our first milestone of 30 full-time minibuses planned for later in the year."
£3 million from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has been invested in the scheme, which once complete, will be the largest of its kind anywhere in the country.
It's being introduced as several traditional bus routes in more rural areas across the region that do not make a profit, are due to disappear from April because of a lack of subsidies.
But Mr Norris admits that not all 30 minibuses will be ready from April and it will take time for WESTlink to get fully embedded.
"This is a major investment for a key project and it’s new to us all, so it certainly won’t be plain sailing," he said.
"Undoubtedly things will go wrong, but we’re ready to learn as we go along.
"I’m determined we get on and try something different, because the old solutions to our transport problems are not up to the challenges of the modern world post pandemic.
"For me, politics is the art of the possible delivering both for passengers of today as well as tomorrow.
"None of this will be easy, or quick, but I’m hugely proud to have secured this major multi-million-pound funding that gives us a unique opportunity to shape our transport future for the better."
You can read more about the traditional bus routes getting axed from April here and more about the public transport situation in the West Country generally, via this link.
According to WECA, around 60 per cent of trips to work in the region are currently made by car, partly because the area continues to suffer from a bus driver shortage.
If you would be interested in becoming a bus driver, there is more information available here.