Temporary timetable changes to the 184

Warning for 184 users Libra travel are having to alter their timetable for 2 weeks due to road works. The temporary timetable can be picked up on the buses or up at the bus stops. We will have copies of the temporary 184 timetable at Saturdays catch the bus week event on Saturday so if you haven't already got a copy of the temporary timetable drop by to pick one up from us and say hello.

First catch the bus week  poster to go up in Frome ‪#‎CTBW‬

Council support for catch the bus camapign

Delighted to announce so far we have 19 Somerset County Councilors on board for our bus campaign! Including David Forthergill (Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport ie buses)

These councillors have pledged their support in Frome
Alvin Horsfall Liberal Democrat Frome East ( County Councillor )
Linda Oliver Conservative Frome North ( County Councillor )...
Derek Tanswell Uk independence party Frome West ( County Councillor)
Damon Hooton Liberal Democrat Fome park ( District Councillor )

We have created some publicity material for you to print off and share for the campaign.

A4 Poster
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5tFt0NTpFL_WkNHVzlLY0hIX2s/view?usp=sharing

2 sided flyier
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5tFt0NTpFL_MHNCM1NCMU5IMTA/view?usp=sharing

Today we launch Somerset Catch The Bus Campaign . The aim of the Somerset 'Catch The Bus Campaign' is to promote the use of existing bus services across the county.

The Somerset Catch The Bus Campaign Blog has been set up by Somerset Bus User Groups including Frome and Villages Bus User Group (FAVBUG) and Rode's Save the 267 Bus to encourage the greater use of existing bus services.

Buses are a life line for the young, the old, the infirm and those who simply can’t afford to own and run a car. Bus services across Somerset have been cut and more are under threat. Increasing the number of people who travel on our bus services is one way of ensuring their continuation. 

Somerset Catch The Bus Campaign is part of a national Catch The Bus Week organised by Greener Journeys on 4th - 10th July. It aims to increase awareness of the benefits of bus travel and encourage people who don’t usually think of catching the bus to leave their cars at home and give it a try. This event is backed by many of the major national bus operators who want to encourage more passengers onto their buses. 

We will be organising events in Somerset to support Catch The Bus Week and we are in touch with the local bus operators about this.  We would like as many people across Somerset to use the bus whenever you can during Catch The Bus Week ( July 4th - 11th). Maybe by using the bus more it will become habit .. We need as many people as possible to get involved with our campaign.

We will be challenging County Councillors and MPs to use the bus whenever you can during Catch The Bus Week. 

Buses are part of the remit of Somerset County Council hence we are inviting all our County Councillors to support our campaign and use the bus whenever they can, especially during Catch The Bus Week (4th to 11 July).

County Councillors who take up the challenge will be highlighted on this map  below. Click on the map to see if your councillor has shown their support

Does your Somerset councillor support local buses?

Does your Somerset councillor support local buses?

towndigitalhub.net
This map will also be published online via Somerset Catch The Bus Campaign Blog and through Facebook and Twitter too. We hope it will gain wide media coverage (radio, TV, newspaper) thereby further encouraging much greater use of buses in Somerset..
http://towndigitalhub.net/frome/favbug/

Lead headline in The Frome Times about our campaign.

Campaign Promotes Catch the Bus Week   Click on this link to read the full story

Local bus campaigners have launched a ‘Somerset Catch the Bus Campaign’ to encourage even greater usage of existing bus services across the county of Somerset. The organisers of this new campaign are Frome and Villages Bus User Group (FavBug) along with Rode’s Save the 267 team. 

Source: frometimes.co.uk

Challange to Somerset County Council as part of catch a bus week

The below challenge was sent to all Somerset County Councillors today:
Dear Councillor
The Somerset Catch The Bus Campaign is being launched this week.
I hope this campaign will have your support.
Its aim is to promote the greater use of existing bus services throughout Somerset.
It links to the national Catch The Bus Week (July 4th – 10th), a campaign that is backed by the major national bus operators. We will be organising a number of events in Somerset.
The aim is to encourage everyone in Somerset to go by the bus as often as they can, most especially during Catch The Bus Week. We would therefore like to invite you, along with all your fellow Somerset County Councillors, to make an effort to catch the bus during that week ... and indeed to go by bus whenever and as often as you can.
The best way of protecting our existing bus services in Somerset is for everyone to use them more frequently.
So please do join us and show your support for buses in Somerset by simply replying to this email and type: “SUPPORT”. That confirms you will try and catch a Somerset bus at least once during Catch The Bus Week. (July 4th-10th)
We will be publishing a map on the Somerset Catch The Bus Campaign Facebook page showing all those Somerset Councillors and MPs who’ve emailed us to say they are supporting Somerset’s Catch The Bus Week. You can view the map by clicking on https://www.facebook.com/groups/SomersetCTBC/.
So do please email me now with the word “SUPPORT” so we can indicate that you are backing Somerset’s existing bus services and that you’ll be trying to use the bus during Catch The Bus Week.
Many thanks
The Somerset Catch the Bus Campaign
PS Please do take a ‘selfie’ of yourself when riding on a Somerset bus and either upload it onto the "Somerset Catch The Bus Campaign Facebook’ page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SomersetCTBC/ or send it to me and I'll upload it for you

WARNING for Traveline users it is showing incorrect information for the 162 leaving Frome. It  is showing the first 162 bus  leaving Frome at 0915 when it should be showing it leaving at 0715

A rough break down of SCC's funding next year

The figures that are shown have been simplified for the benefit of the general public

I managed to balance SCC's scales for next years funding

These are the choices that I went with

 Bus subsidies 1.4m
School transport & concessionary fares 17.4m
Economic development 1m
Adult social care 79.3m...
Improving public health 23.1m
improving mental health 8.3m
Children's social care 48.9m
Roads 14.9m
Waste management 17.8m
Improving school results 5.8m
Recycling centres 9.2m
Libraries 7.1m
Flood prevention 3.1m

Changes to the 162 from the 13th June

Cuts to the 669 Saturday service will mean that the two 162 buses that operate on a Saturday will cease after the 13th June.
Their will also be some changes to bus times as follows
The 0710 will be running 5 minutes later at 0715 and the last bus back will be 5 minutes later so instead of leaving Shepton at 1825 it will no leave at 1830