West Sussex: New Public Transport System Launches

A new, on-demand bus services for rural parts of West Sussex — Book-a-Bus — began operation today (July 24).

According to West Sussex County Council, the scheme should make getting around the county "even easier".

Book-a-Bus is what the local authority called a "demand responsive transport system", intended to serve the more rural areas in the county that currently have limited or no traditional bus service available.

The new service will operate within set zones and offer passenger pick-up in a location closer to them, in comparison to traditional bus services.

Furthermore, travel to the destination after the close-to-home pickup will costs the same as a standard bus fare, currently capped at £2 per trip until October 2023.

Book-a-Bus launches today, with the first zone encompassing the rural area between Chichester and Petworth, where two types of service will be available to passengers.

The existing 99 bus service remains a semi-flexible service that incorporates some fixed stops and the ability to deviate within pre-defined areas and can be booked seven days in advance.

The second, and new, service, called the “99 Flex”, is a fully flexible service with no conventional timetable or routes.

Instead, it operates based on the bookings it receives via the Ride Pingo app or by phone.

Council chiefs say that, at the moment, three additional zones are being explored, all serving those communities where conventional bus travel is limited.

These include rural areas north of Petworth and north-west of Chichester and villages in the Barnham, Eastergate and Westergate area not served by frequent conventional bus services.  

It's intended that the three additional zones will operate on a fully flexible model to provide passengers with a travel option that suits their needs.

While travel will be restricted to starting and ending within the same zone, there are several onward connections to travel by bus or train.

This new flexible service is part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan, a county council initiative, funded by central government, that aims to make it easier and more attractive for residents and visitors to travel by bus.

Councillor Joy Dennis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said:

“Maintaining a sustainable and prosperous economy in West Sussex is a priority for us in the council and is part of Our Council Plan.

"Improving our transport network with better bus services supports this priority.

“The flexibility of Book-a-Bus is vital for keeping our residents in rural areas connected with their communities and to provide continued access to key services, including healthcare, education, shops, and leisure facilities.

"The service follows an on-demand rideshare approach, allowing for travel around popular locations at a time that’s convenient for them.

“Although currently only available in areas between Chichester and Petworth, we are exploring expansion to more zones very soon.”

Compass Travel Managing Director, Chris Chatfield, the operator for the first zone, added:

“Book-a-Bus is a great new way to travel across the county and will give more flexibility to the county’s residents and visitors.

“Ensuring the ease of travel for our passengers is a priority for us.

"Our buses are fully accessible with low-floor access and a designated space for wheelchairs on board.

"Our drivers are highly trained and can offer extra support at pick-up points and at the destination.”

To “Book-a-Bus”, West Sussex County Council asks passengers to download the Ride Pingo app or dial the call centre at 01243 858854.

Bookings for the fully flexible service can be made for up to five passengers per trip subject to availability.

Anyone can use the service, anytime between 7.00am to 7.00pm, Monday through Saturday excluding Bank Holidays.

For more information on Book-a-Bus, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/book-a-bus