Visiting the Metro website, I came across publicity for Metro’s East Leeds ‘FlexiBus’ service: “West Yorkshire’s first demand responsive public transport service.” I thought that I’d look at the website’s information on this service. I’m interested in how these services work, as I suspect that at some time, we may see such provision in Dumfries and Galloway, where I now live.
There are three aspects to the information on this service: the website (including a video), plus two documents that can be downloaded, comprising the one-page “how to” guide and a fourpage fact sheet with frequently asked questions. The website makes clear that the FlexiBus service is a demand responsive trial, though quite for how long this will endure is not specified. The new service is aimed at helping people to move around East Leeds; and must be booked at least one hour in advance of the intended travel time. The bus will pick you up “at a safe and convenient place within 200 metres of your location.”
Scanning this information, the first thing I looked for was: when does it operate? To find that the FlexiBus runs Monday to Saturday between 7:00 and 19:00pm, you have to go to the bottom of the webpage; and to page two of the four-page fact sheet. Ditto to establish that you pay a £2 flat fare and to learn about the eligibility of concessionary and other passes.
