An on-demand community bus service in the Black Isle will officially launch next week after a successful trial.
It allows permanent and temporary residents in the Ferintosh Community Council area to book journeys to and from their homes.
One passenger has hailed the service as “the future of rural public transport”.
The electric, six-seater, wheelchair accessible vehicle is currently available between 9.30 am – 4 pm, Monday to Friday.
During March the Ferintosh Community Bus (FCB) can be used during the day and evening, seven days a week.
Pay as you can
Passengers can book journeys between any two points within the community council area.
It also provides a service to Tore Service Station to link to Stagecoach’s buses into Inverness and northwards on the A9.
The fare structure is ‘pay what you can’ for any Black Isle destinations, with a recommended £2 cash return fare.
When connecting with Stagecoach services to and from Inverness, the complete journey’s fare will be paid on the Stagecoach bus and costs the same as the current subsidised 22 service.
The formal launch of the FCB will be held at Findon Hall, Culbokie, on Monday.
Local MSP Kate Forbes and Highland councillor Allan Henderson, chairman of regional transport partnership Hitrans, will join passengers and others involved in the project.
During the trial the FCB was used for around 11 journeys per week by 25 different residents.
People use it to shop, keep appointments, connect with train services, visit family and friends and keep social engagements.
Passengers say the advantages include not having to carry shopping home from bus stops and having a convenient journey home when driving is not possible.
One user said: “This seems to me to be the future for rural public transport in an affordable environmentally sustainable manner.
‘The bus is great’
“The FCB combines the convenience of journeys from our houses without the need to own or have access to private vehicles.”
Another said: “The bus is great. I have used it about four times now for small shopping trips to Inverness.
“I am using the FCB more than I would have used the standard service because of the home pick-up.
“Walking to Culbokie without any pavements for a mile is no fun.”
The pilot scheme, which runs until March 1, is a partnership of Hitrans, Stagecoach, The Highland Council, CSI Ross-shire, Ferintosh Community Council (supported by Culbokie Community Trust) and Bannerman Transport.
It is supported through an EU project called MOVE which seeks to improve public transport.
Bruce Morrison, who is leading the project for the community council, said: “A community bus service combines the advantage of being collected from your home with the efficiency of a public transport vehicle by sharing with other residents.
“A key community element of the service is the valuable contribution made by residents volunteering as drivers in the evenings and weekends.”
Mr Henderson said the bus will be owned and maintained by Highland Council from March.
He said: “The FCB a fine example of a demand responsive form of public bus transport that can be mirrored across the Highlands and Islands, providing a more accessible, more frequent and more sustainable service for local residents.”
Making bus travel more accessible
David Beaton, managing director at Stagecoach Highlands, said by partnering with rural communities travelling by bus can be more accessible.
He said: “We look forward to welcoming more people on board our services who have made the connection with the Ferintosh Community Bus.”
Users can book by calling between 10am-2pm, Monday to Friday at least one day in advance of a journey.