Buses4U rides on – now use it or lose it!
February 28, 2007: Buses4U, Bookham and district’s local door-to-door bus service, has been reprieved. Locals who emerged from the Mole Valley budget meeting on February 20 thought the service would be lucky to survive. But Marcus Dodé, the East Surrey rural transport partnership officer, has told the
Bugle that for now the yellow buses are safe.
As the
Bugle reported last April, Buses4U was under a shadow because so few people use it. The service is an able-bodied alternative to Dial-a-Ride. Dial-a-Ride provides door-to-door transport for those who need vehicles with tail lifts or room for wheelchairs.
But on weekdays any would-be traveller can contact Buses4U and ask for the bus to take them anywhere in an area within an area bounded by the A24, A23, M25 and the West Sussex border. Bookham residents can use the Buses4U service outside that area to go to Reigate , Redhill, Horley, Dorking or Leatherhead.
Dodé told the
Bugle this week: ‘There are absolutely no plans for its withdrawal. I'm happy to say that the Mole Valley Buses4U service is currently funded through a number of different sources.’
As well as fare receipts, he told the
Bugle, Buses4U receives money from Surrey Primary Care Trust, Mole Valley council, Reigate & Banstead borough council, two local bus contracts with Surrey County Council (SCC) Passenger Transport, SCC's Community Transport budget, concessionary fares reimbursement, Bus Service Operator's Grant (from the Department for Transport), and a contract from the SCC Education Department.
Bookings can be made by phone (01730 815 518), text (07714 854 082) or email (buses4u@tandridge.gov.uk), giving your name, pick up time, pick up point, destination and, if you need it, a return time.
Look at the areas of service to see the destinations available to you and the hours the bus operates. Fares are £1.50 single or £3 return for journeys up to four miles and £2.50 single or £5 return for longer journeys.
More information available on the
Buses4U website.
