A digital demand-responsive minibus service has launched in Watford to provide a safe, reliable and sustainable transport mode for essential travel in the town.
The service, called ArrivaClick, has been developed by passenger transport operator Arriva UK using technology from Ioki, Deutsche Bahn’s smart mobility business unit.
Subsidised by Watford Borough Council, the service is designed to deliver a cost-efficient mode of transport, priced between a bus and taxi fare, which can be booked and paid for via a free smartphone app.
Responding to demand from passengers and the routes they want to take, the service picks them up from a ‘virtual stop’ close to their starting point.
The service, which launched on 2 July, is being phased in to comply with government guidance and will be scaled up as restrictions around Covid-19 are lifted.
It is currently operating with three minibuses, at a reduced capacity of a maximum of four people at any one time. Service users are also being asked to wear face coverings.
The buses will operate across the borough and to Warner Brother Studios and Croxley Park. Each bus will have seating, tables, free Wi-Fi, USB chargers and air conditioning.
Journey prices range from £1 to £2.50 per mile depending on the time of day and further discounts are available to regular users via weekly passes and credit bundles.
The hours of operation are 6am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday (extending to 11pm on Friday and Saturday evenings) and 8am to 9pm on Sundays.
Elected mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “It is important that we offer new ways to travel around the town so that we can cut congestion and make our air cleaner.
“I am delighted to be launching a demand responsive bus scheme for Watford and am confident that ArrivaClick will be a real success in our town.
“I am looking forward to welcoming the first buses to Watford and joining people in our town using them to get around.”
The mobility concept is part of Watford Borough Council’s wider strategy to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030 after declaring a climate emergency last year.
Other sustainable transport initiatives launched in Watford include the Beryl Bike Share Scheme, travelWatford app and EV charging points for EVs across the borough.
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