Car pools the best solution
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CAR SHARING, rather than community minibuses, will serve rural communities' transport needs best, says Tayside's director of public transport Alan Westwell, Shortage of volunteer minibus drivers and forthcoming EEC drivers' hours regulations will swing developments in favour of carsharing schemes in isolated areas, he says in a recent report.
In a review of five rural public transport schemes operating in his area, he has underlined the difficulties which have beset minibus operation.
A community car-sharing scheme which was extended to use an education department minibus may now be replaced by another carsharing scheme as the supply of volunteer drivers has almost dried up.
Three schemes which depend upon a Women's Royal Voluntary Service minibus were withdrawn when the vehicle became unroadworthy, but local operator Gle.nisla Coaches of Alyth has since come to the rescue. This has helped boost private hire business for Glenisla.
A Strathtimmel community minibus is helping fill gaps left by the winter reduction in the local operator's scheduled service.
Mr Westwell says there is no single answer to rural transport problems, but promises that his region will continue to support developments which appear logical and which co-ordinate existing facilities.