Bus operator looking to improve accessibility

LibertyBus said more young people and disabled people were using its services

Following a rise in the number of younger people and disabled people using its services LibertyBus is working to make them more accessible.

The Jersey bus operator's latest Social Impact Report found more young people and disabled people were using its services.

The company said there were more than one million student passenger journeys in 2023, a 15% increase compared to the previous year.

LibertyBus Director Kevin Hart said the bus operator had a "community focus" and aimed to make services "accessible and available for all".

He said in the last four years, the company introduced "training on how a wheelchair user can access services" and "one-to-one training" for people who are anxious about using buses.

Mr Hart said younger people were "realising the bus is actually a good thing" and "between us and the government we’re helping more young people know they can get concessions on bus travel".

Kevin Hart said it was important to work with charities and the government to make bus services accessible

The AvanchiAccess card provides free travel for people with a long-term disability.

Mr Hart said "more and more people are using it" and people can "bring somebody with them if they can't travel alone".

Overall concessionary card use is down compared to pre-Covid levels - 6% lower than 2019 figures, but Mr Hart said those numbers were starting to grow again.

The company said it was working with charities like Headway Jersey, Beresford Street Kitchen and Jersey Employment Trust and the government to continue to improve the accessibility of its services.

Charities and support groups attended the publication of the Social Impact Report