Rural Wheels Cheryl Cowperthwaite Community Transport Officer Cumbria County Council
CUMBRIA Second largest county in England 700 sq km Population of half a million people
CUMBRIA Cont Population around periphery of County Long distances between main towns many communities small and isolated from services. 70% Settlements less than 200 people. Main employment opportunities in Carlisle and Barrow.
CUMBRIA Cont Key Service Centres Penrith, Kendal, Cockermouth, Whitehaven, Workington (between 10 and 25k) Smaller Towns Millom, Egremont, Maryport, Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kirkby Stephen, Appleby (less than 10k) Half of the county live in sparse rural areas.
LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN Areas of poor access in both rural and urban areas particular road safety issues in some areas of deprivation. Congestion in Carlisle and Kendal. Heavy reliance on car(s) particularly in rural areas.
COMMERCIAL AND SUPPORTED NETWORK Bus Services in Cum bria Supported Bus Services in Cum bria Routes on which most journeys are Supported Routes on which most journeys are Commercially provided Routes where there is an Equal mixed of Supported and Commercial Journeys Daily Services Improvements in Frequency Evenin gs / Sun days Seasonal Services Other Supported Services
TRANSPORT One major operator Stagecoach Stagecoach operate 80% of bus services commercially. Network to some extent historic decline in public transport usage Many small commercial operators who provide most of the contract work for other council services school and social services provide few registered services.
RURAL ACCESSIBILITY Low Population Density difficult to sustain any transport services in rural areas. Ageing Population retired people coming to Cumbria leads to schools closing particularly in rural areas. Disappearance of many services, Doctors Surgeries, Shops etc in small communities. Economic change in Traditional Industries in West Cumbria and Barrow Jobs in Nuclear, Shipbuilding & Chemical Trades being replaced with Tourism and Service Sectors. Changed demands on transport, low wages, Part Time Work, Different Work Patterns, Dispersed Services.
SOLUTION RURAL WHEELS Flexible demand responsive transport service which can adapt to changing patterns of need. Transport service which encourages integrated transport by linking main bus and rail services. Transport focussing on key service centres. Maximise income opportunities for small rural operators both commercial and voluntary Uses down time of vehicles used to provide other Council services.
Smartcard use provides accountable system also collects information on journey purpose. Encourages shared travel and use of conventional network. Absence of fixed costs delivers a service that can reach a wider population. Smartcard scheme will ultimately be compatible with system used for concessionary fares.
RURAL WHEELS The first Rural Wheels pilot started operating in Autumn 2002 focussing on Ulverston. Carlisle The Second Rural Wheels Service started in rural areas outside Carlisle a year ago. South Lakeland
RURAL WHEELS Passengers using the service to make journeys that they would not normally be able to make. CCC looking to extend service to provide access opportunities in other rural areas in Cumbria this will link with work taking place on accessibility Passenger Transport in rural areas needs to be co ordinated but also flexible enough to meet needs in a changing environment. CCC undertaking Root and Branch review of all supported services this will involve considering different types of provision.
CHALLENGES Providing cost effective transport service for people in rural areas to access essential services. Accessibility targets : Health For TA as part of LTP Education/Training Employment Key Service Centre Need to maintain a core transport network Establish a standard of access for people which will take account of both rural and more urban areas
WAY FORWARD Working in partnership with other services providers involving representatives of key organisations. Cumbria Accessibility & Transport Partnership. First Accessibility Planning work already begun in Eden collecting existing information. Will look to providing solutions. Have a number of options to transport provision including Rural Wheels.