• fr
  • en

An on-demand bus to serve mountain and remote areas

Bwcabus (Book-a-bus) is an ondemand local bus service operating in west Wales. The initiative was created in 2015 to respond to the needs of people living in rural and mountain areas.

Context

Rural and mountainous areas across Europe have sometimes become very isolated as uncompetitive local bus services are cut to save costs. This means that inhabitants, who do not own a car, can be deprived from access to employment, healthcare or education.

The project and how it works

The project aimed to improve accessibility, reduce car dependency and assist people who live in areas where public transportation does no longer exist. The buses serve local towns and villages but also connect to the main bus or train lines.
The initiative was led by Carmarthenshire County Council, in partnership with Ceredigion County Council, Traveline Cymru and the University of South Wales.

The bus service has diverse itineraries with fixed routes and an on-demand service.

Inhabitants can pre-book the bus service by phone or on the Internet, on the Bwcabus website. The website provides information on the service, including the location of bus stops and fares.

Every Bwcabus buses are tailored to drive in remote areas and their entrances are also made for passengers with reduced mobility (the entrances being low, wide and accessible).

Positive results for inhabitants and the local economy 

  • The project successfully responds to citizen’s needs. Bwcabus buses help mountain people to have access to services of general interest such as health and education but also job.
  • The service has increased the frequency of public transport use and encouraged a reduction in car use.
  • Bwcabus generates an overall increase in passenger journeys. The buses transports workers but also new clients to local businesses. Thus, they help to stimulate and boost local businesses and the local economy.

In conclusion, the initiative shows that new approaches exist to deliver a sustainable model of integrated rural public transport.

For more information about the Bwcabus project, read the project description or visit the bus service website.

For more good practices on mobility in rural and mountain areas, have a look at these 51 successful initiatives in greening and improving mobility in rural areas that have been collected within the project Move On Green.

Share
13 July 2017

Euromontana sur Facebook

2 days ago

Euromontana
We were today at the European Committee of the Regions too meet with regional policymakers from the Carpathians ⛰🤝 Thank you to Witold Kozłowski from the Małopolska region - also a new member of our Board of Directors - for our discussions!𝗪𝘀𝗽𝗼́𝗹𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝗮ł𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝘀𝗸𝗶 𝗶 𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗶 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗻𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗿. 👍Obecność wicemarszałka Witold Kozłowski w Brukseli podczas 163. Sesji Plenarnej Europejskiego Komitetu Regionów dała okazję do spotkania z dyrektorem Europejskiego Stowarzyszenia Obszarów Górskich Euromontana Guillaume Corradino. | Więcej 👇 ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

3 days ago

Euromontana
One month since the #mountainconvention2024 in Puigcerdà! 🏔️ What future for #mountaineconomies? Find all the key insights in the event report! 📝🙏 Thank you to all stakeholders who shared their ideas, projects and recommendations for a brighter future in the mountains!Report 🔗 www.euromontana.org/outcomes ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

5 days ago

Euromontana
Explore the new guide on ‘rural proofing for the evaluation of the rural perspective in laws, policies, plans and strategies’: bit.ly/3O995FiPublished by the Red Española de Desarrollo Rural (REDR), it intends to support authorities in incorporating a rural angle when designing, implementing, and reviewing policies and regulations.Find more information here: bit.ly/4ev41FK #RuralPact #RuralVisionEUELARD aisbl EESC - European Economic and Social Committee European Rural Development Network ODRAZ-Održivi razvoj zajednice Prepare AISBL Luonnonvarakeskus Smeunited Euromontana Diesis Network Wallonie.be ECOLISE EU CAP Network Netzwerk Zukunftsraum Land Vlaams Ruraal Netwerk Réseau wallon PAC Ruralni razvoj RH Ministerstvo zemědělství Netwerk Platteland / Netherlands Rural Network Maaeluvõrgustik Maaseutu - Tilaa elämälle Réseau national Agricultures et Ruralités 2023 - 2027 Deutsche Vernetzungsstelle Ländliche Räume Εθνικό Αγροτικό Δίκτυο - Greek National Rural Network Magyar Nemzeti Vidéki Hálózat CAP Network Ireland Rete Rurale Nazionale Lauku tīkls Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Alimentation et de la Viticulture Fondi.eu Krajowa Sieć Obszarów Wiejskich+ Rede Rural Nacional Rețeaua Rurală Națională - RRN Mreža za podeželje ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

2 weeks ago

Euromontana
Today, members of the Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG) meet online to discuss: • The forthcoming RPCG Declaration on the future of EU rural policy, which addresses the open questions in the @European Commission’s ‘key achievements and ways forward’ report;• RPCG members’ position papers on the future of Europe’s rural areas;• RPCG members’ role in the Rural Pact Conference of April 2025;• Members’ actions to date & the Rural Pact Support Office 2025 work programme.More information at: bit.ly/4fwtjnS#RuralPact #RuralVisionEU ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

Euromontana sur Twitter