Archived decisions

APPENDIX 3

Scheduled and Special School Bus Services Pilot - Achievements and Progress

Year 1 (March 2007 - February 2008)

Primary objective - to increase the percentage of pupils who travel to school by bus in the target area through the introduction of a package of measures including incentive schemes and the provision of information and simplified fares

Pilot areas: Eastleigh and the Waterside

Launch date: March 2007

Schools involved:

· Fryern Infant School (started in Sept.08),

· Fryern Junior School,

· St Swithun RC Voluntary Aided Primary School,

· Crestwood College,

· Thornden School,

· The Toynbee School,

· Hythe Primary School

· Noadswood School

· Applemore College

Scheme features

Each school was offered a personalised package of measures, which included the following;

· Creation of dedicated BusIT website with journey planner and links to existing healthy lifestyle, road safety and walking and cycling web pages

· Personal pack containing BusIT identity card allowing school travel for £1 a day, school-specific timetables, promotional leaflet with retailer and leisure incentives and money offer vouchers, Freepost survey card

· Promotional items including fridge magnet, key fob and eraser

· Providing promotional materials for schools

· Promoting sustainable travel messages through assemblies

· Working with schools and bus operators to revise journey times, increase capacity and provide after school transport

Progress to-date and Achievements

· All secondary schools and two primary schools participating in the incentive scheme and managing them independently

· Local residents, teachers and pupils reported reduced congestion outside of schools

· Feedback session hosted by IPSOS Mori with local parents.

· Year 2 cards issued and continuing requests for new issues

· HMV and Waterstone's £5 vouchers being issued in return for journeys made

· Over 30,000 BusIT journeys made in first year of scheme.

Unexpected Achievements

· Thornden School identified measures which could also improve access for cyclists which has noted for future work.

As the pilot is has just completed its first year, data is still being collected