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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Laura Laker

BIZARRE: All aboard how on demand public transport is getting back on the road - You Need To See This

Woman and child getting into Via bus.
Shared on-demand minibus services can be helpful for elderly people and students. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

During the early stages of the pandemic, Transport for Wales (TfW) decided to try something new. In May 2020 it launched fflecsi, an app-based service that allows people to book a shuttle minibus from “floating bus stops” near their homes directly to their destination.

Available in 11 locations across Wales, the service was an immediate hit: in five weeks passenger numbers grew 150%, and in its first 12 months it served 50,000 trips. Best of all, 9% of its riders were people who hadn’t previously used public transport. As one passenger said: “This is too good to be true. This is Pembrokeshire, we don’t get transport like this.”

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