March 14, 2012 3.10 pm This story is over 144 months old

Council looking to continue Walk and Ride service amid budget cuts

Walk – Ride? Faced with reduced budgets, the City Council is looking at ways to maintain the Walk and Ride service in Lincoln.

Faced with reduced budgets, officials at the City Council are looking to continue the Walk and Ride service that links Lincoln’s uphill and downhill shopping areas.

The service has operated since 2001 and in 2010/11 carried 78,375 passengers. It is currently provided at a net cost to the council, which could reach £65,590 in 2012/13.

But a significant reduction in support from external bodies in recent years means now the council has to look at various ways to keep the service running.

The City of Lincoln Council will consult this summer with passengers and other interested bodies on a range of possible options to secure the future of the service.

Cost reduction ideas to be explored include increasing fares (currently £1.30 per adult / £3 all day), reducing the size of the route, reverting to a six-day per week service, or a retender of the service to reduce costs as part of a longer term contract

City Councillor Neil Murray said: “The Walk and Ride bus is a very important service and we will do everything in our power to secure its future as we know it helps to support the local economy.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the results of the consultation, which will help us to better understand how the public feel we should provide the service.”

The consultation process will start in the summer when businesses and partners will receive further details on the proposals.

No decisions will be made on any changes to the service until that consultation process is completed, the council said.