Title of Project: Coastal Bus Services
What have we done?
We now have five coastal bus services that run 7 days a week throughout the summer. The Poppit Rocket, the Strumble and Puffin Shuttles, the Celtic Coaster and the Coastal Cruiser now cover the majority of the Pembrokeshire Coast in regular and efficient services. The Coastal Cruiser is the first bus designed to carry surfboards as well as bikes, wheelchairs, and walking and climbing equipment. It is also powered by bio-diesel, an environmentally friendly fuel. Due to popular local demand for services we also run the Poppit Rocket, Strumble, Puffin Shuttles, and Coastal Cruiser buses 3-days a week during the winter.
We have also launched the "Day Tripper" attractions bus which ferries visitors to the County's major tourist attractions in the Tenby and Saundersfoot area. This bus has been hugely popular with businesses, visitors and locals alike and will be repeated again this summer.
What are we trying to achieve and why is it important?
The coastal bus services serve a number of major functions: they provide transport for those using the coast path, which attracts more visitors to the area and therefore strengthens the local economy; they protect the environment by reducing dependence on cars to access the coast paths; they encourage local people to use the coast paths and partake in exercise by making it far easier to access it; and they provide public transport for residents.
The Day Tripper makes it easier and more convenient to access tourist attractions and therefore encourages more visitors to the area; and it also reduces the reliance on cars in the area and therefore protects the environment from pollution. A large proportion of visitors holiday without a car in the Tenby area and this bus has enabled them to access all the local attractions that have not previously been fully-accessible by public transport.
How is it benefiting you?
You can now enjoy using the coast path in linear sections rather than having to double back on yourself in order to get back to your car. This is because you can catch the bus back to your car after you have walked a section, or you can catch a bus at the start of your journey and walk back to your car. This means that you can explore more of our beautiful coast path. You will also benefit from improved health if you chose to use the coastal buses to explore our coast path. Local residents benefit from increased tourist visits because of the positive impact that this has on our local economy, and the coastal and attractions bus are likely to encourage people to revisit the area. Everyone benefits from a healthier environment, and the buses are trying to promote public transport rather than over-reliance on cars. If you live in a coastal village or town, you can also benefit from using the coastal buses to get around the County and into our main towns.
Evidence
Coastal buses carried nearly 50,000 passengers last year and research indicates that most passengers are travelling in pairs to walk the Pembrokeshire coast path. Prior to the coastal buses people were using 2 or more cars to enjoy a walk in one direction and current bus use levels has reduced the number of cars in the National Park by an estimated 20,000 cars a year.
The Day Tripper attractions bus ran a trial service, for 8 days, during the 2005 summer season and carried over 300 passengers. The service will be extended to more attractions, including Colby Woodland Gardens, and will run for all school holidays in 2006.
ID: 10211 Revised: 13/7/2010
