Transport On Demand

South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) is proposing a new type of solution to meet the transport needs of our rural community. Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) or transport-on-demand as I like to call it, is ideal for people living in rural areas with limited or no access to conventional public transport. It aims to take passengers to locations where they can access other transport services. DRT will not duplicate existing transport facilities.

DRT is run by independent professional providers on a not-for-profit basis and use paid drivers who can help with shopping bags and wheel chair access.

Where can you travel to and from?

DRT can provide a door-to-door service,collecting you from your home and taking you to your preferred destination. For example, they would be able to take you directly to your medical centre, rather than drop you off nearby. You could also arrange to be picked up or dropped off at a stop along a scheduled bus route or at a Park & Ride. You could also use it to get to work, or to visit family.

How does it work?

Anyone wanting to use the service, calls a specified local booking line to make the booking, and transport is arranged on a first come first served basis. The usual model is for bookings to be taken up to 7 days in advance, with 2 live bookings at any one time. This model can be changed to reflect specific local needs.

Passengers can also make up to 6 forward bookings per year in advance of the usual 7 days notice. This is important for passengers who need to secure transport for important appointments, for example medical appointments. The DRT operator normally operates the booking line. Lines for existing schemes are open Monday to Friday 8am until 4pm.

Combining Scheduled and Demand Responsive Services

In some areas it might be better to combine scheduled and DRT services. This could take the form where a scheduled bus service would run at the beginning at the end of the day, which provides the regular provision that commuters and students would require. Then during the day, the DRT would provide the flexible facility for other transport users.

The type of combination service would again be determined by the need identified in the area.

What would passengers pay?

The fares charged would be in line with Cambridgeshire County Council fare structure. Those who have concessionary bus passes would be able to use their passes in line with current practice, in particular after 9.30am.

The scheme is not yet finalised and SCDC would love to hear from anyone who is interested in transport or who uses the bus services or could see themselves using such a service.

If any communities wants SCDC to pursue the transport-on-demand scheme as an option, then they should complete the survey form and send it in as those views will help SCDC make the case to partners and potential funders for implementing and acquiring funding for it.

For more information on the scheme, please download the DRT information leaflet here .

You can also download the survey form here , complete and return to Kathyrn Hawkes at South Cambridgeshire District Council.