Buses World News
In brief: Worldwide montly news & informations about Buses, Busmakers, Passengers' and the Transport Industry
CELEBRATION * USA - Winter Haven's Bus Service: WHAT Turns 10
A bus line indeed can touch more people than just those who ride it: People who don't ride them may have been helped during the work day by someone who has a job because the bus provided transportation 
Lakeland,FL,USA -The Ledger -March 8, 2009: -- The city's bus service, Winter Haven Area Transit (WHAT), will hold a celebration of its 10th year of service March 17... The buses started rolling on March 1, 1999, and WHAT carried an average of 7,000 riders a month during its first year. Last year, the bus service averaged 40,000 passengers a month. "It's the only alternate transportation in the county if you don't have a car or can't afford a taxi," Paul Simmons, director of Polk County Transit Services, told ... When gas prices passed $4 a gallon last year, more people turned to buses for transportation. When cars break down, or one isn't available, the bus can fill in... For many riders, however, the bus is a lifeline to the outside world... (Polk County net: transit bus)Labels: community bus services
COMMUNITY BUS SERVICE * UK -Little Red Bus service hails 'remarkable' rise in passengers
Ripon,England,UK -The Ripon Today -31 October 2008: -- A community bus service has come to the rescue of two market towns which feared losing their service... Earlier this year the Little Red Bus Company stepped in to provide a service between Masham and Bedale – and their initiative has brought rising numbers using the much valued link... When the Little Red Bus Company took over the route earlier this year passenger numbers in April were just 71... Passengers have increased every month since. In May 159 took the journey; in June the numbers were 257; July 293; August 825 and in September 927. This represents an increase of 1,300 per cent...* 7,000 passengers help get bus on the road
Carlisle,England,UK -The Cumberland News, by Steph Johnson -31 Oct 2008: -- Wigton's new community bus has hit the roads after volunteers raised more than £35,000 to replace their worn out wheels... A £25,000 Cumbria Rural Initiative support grant started the fund off and it took just seven months to come up with the rest... Money came from organisations such as the Hadfield Trust and Cumbria Community Foundation. But a lot of the cash came from the pockets of residents... One couple who regularly used the old bus donated £500. Another woman handed over a carrier bag full of loose change – which amounted to more than £100 when the pennies had been counted up... And a quiz night brought in a further £900... The old bus served Wigton and district well, clocking up 132,000 miles on its travels during the last six years. But it had become shabby and expensive to maintain... Mr Grainger says it was vital to continue the service, which is run by volunteers, for the people who cannot rely on public transport... This year the WDCT bus carried almost 7,000 passengers and helped about 60 community groups, including Allerdale multiple sclerosis group, Wigton Youth Football and Abbeytown Women’s Institute... (Bus launch: MP David Maclean, left and Allan Haile, of Cumbria County Council, right, hand over the keys to committee member Sue Deans and chairman Joe GraingerWigton and District Community Transport chairman Joe Grainger was handed the keys to the £63,000, 16-seater Mercedes on Saturday) Labels: community bus services
Lakeland,FL,USA -The Ledger -March 8, 2009: -- The city's bus service, Winter Haven Area Transit (WHAT), will hold a celebration of its 10th year of service March 17... The buses started rolling on March 1, 1999, and WHAT carried an average of 7,000 riders a month during its first year. Last year, the bus service averaged 40,000 passengers a month. "It's the only alternate transportation in the county if you don't have a car or can't afford a taxi," Paul Simmons, director of Polk County Transit Services, told ... When gas prices passed $4 a gallon last year, more people turned to buses for transportation. When cars break down, or one isn't available, the bus can fill in... For many riders, however, the bus is a lifeline to the outside world... (Polk County net: transit bus)
