Alternative pathfinder suggestions
Participants were asked to develop priorities of pathfinder projects that would make a difference for them. Both rural and urban groups had separate priorities for pilot schemes showing the need for localised solutions based on community need, as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3.
Rural suggestions for Pathfinder Projects
The rural cohort suggested future projects could include:
- Staff training to understand the importance of inclusion.
- Expanding concessionary travel scheme to all forms of public transport, to all of those in receipt of benefits, to those with no recourse to public funds and those who are homeless or in temporary accommodation.
- Integrated ticketing between different modes of transport and providers.
- Investment in new better designed stock with more accessibility spaces for disabled people and parents with prams.
- Increasing availability of Pingo Bus service.
Participants were then asked to rank which of these projects would be the most beneficial to them. The top priority was:
- Expanding the concessionary travel scheme to all forms of public transport, (bus, trains ferries etc) and increase target groups.
Followed by:
- Capping ticket prices as has been seen in Manchester.
Urban suggestions for Pathfinder suggestions
The Urban group suggested that future pathfinder projects could include:
- Capping fares such as single or daily fares, as in Manchester or affordable pre-loaded monthly/weekly bus cards.
- Reducing cost of bus tickets by introducing a reward scheme based on use.
- Integrating buses and trains in a zonal system as in London with an oyster type card
- Free public transport for a period of time to test demand or pay what you think for a period of time.
When asked to rank which of these projects would be the most beneficial to them. The group had two equally ranked suggestions for pathfinder projects:
- Reducing cost by capping fares and affordable monthly ticketsÂ
- Expansion of concessionary schemes to people who are in the asylum system.