A first for Dyfed
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Dyfed's Country Cars service is not be be confused with car sharing, but is the county's' name for a series of voluntary social car schemes providing transport for people who otherwise are unable to make essential journeys.
Passengers make a contribution towards the cost of the journey based on the equivalent bus fare. Voluntary drivers and organisers, recruited by the Women's Royal Volunteer Service, are reimbursed expenses by the county council.
Dyfed believes that next year it wilt be the first county in the UK to have a complete scheme; already 19 schemes are in operation. Country Cars help: people who cannot travel by bus (like the disabled); and those whose house is too isolated to be near a bus route or who have to make an essential journey when no public transport is available.
So it is very much a volunteer, service, but regular meetings are held with local organisers.
It is a condition of the schemes that they complement and do not compete with any other form of transport. "We follow strict guidelines," said Alan Dodd, "but no rules. We get the drivers when possible to take passengers to the nearest bus stop. The budget for this service is E20,000 a year."
Dyfed also has three postbus routes, but so far no request has been made for a community bus service.