Transport for London (TfL) has launched a four-week consultation on plans to trial an on-demand bus service.
The on-demand service trial in Sutton will let people or groups use an app to book seats on a minibus that will stop at locations, including areas not currently served by public transport.
Proposed services will run from 6.30am to 9.30pm, seven days a week and would carry up to 14 passengers, who would have from a guaranteed seat, free WiFi and USB charging points and flexible stops within a certain area.
Go- Ahead already runs an on-demand service in Oxford
The consultation is asking Londoners for their views on the specific area of Sutton that the service should cover and suggested stopping points.
The trial, which will last for a year, will help TfL gauge the level of interest for an on-demand service and assess how it would work alongside the existing public transport network in Sutton.
Sutton was chosen because it has relatively high car dependency, and TfL believes the service could encourage people to switch to a more sustainable way of travelling. In doing so it says this will improve London’s air quality and reduce congestion. The buses will meet emissions standards and also accommodate wheelchairs.
As well as using the app, passengers will also be able to book trips over the phone. The cost of using this new type of transport will be slightly higher than a traditional bus to reflect a better experience for customers, with Freedom Passes accepted.
After a competitive bidding process, ViaVan and Go-Ahead have been chosen to operate the trial.
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