Passengers can look forward to better bus stops thanks to a £150,000 improvement programme which is already underway.
A number of rural bus stops on the Island are being upgraded to improve safety and accessibility as part of the Isle of Wight Council scheme.
The works are specific to each location but include the introduction of dropped kerbs, new road markings and signage, tactile paving, increased hard standings and improved drainage.
The council worked closely with the Isle of Wight Bus and Rail Users’ Group, the Local Access Forum and Southern Vectis to draw up a list of more than ten bus stops to be upgraded. Local community requests were also considered.
Completed works so far include bus stops at Chale Street, Chale, Whitwell Road, Ventnor, Shanklin Road, Sandford, Alum Bay New Road, Totland, and Hillway Road, Bembridge.
The remaining accessibility improvement programme includes:
- Forest Road, Newport
- Gunville Road, Newport
- Park Road, Cowes
- Newport Road, Northwood
- Nodes Road, Northwood,
- Whitcombe Road, Gatcombe
The programme is being funded from government grants to support highway improvements and rural bus services.
Motorists are advised there could be some localised disruption where works are taking place.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said:
“Every bus passenger deserves a safe and accessible way to get to and from a bus stop and a safe and accessible place to wait for the bus.
“This investment in our bus stop infrastructure will improve travelling by public transport through increased comfort and safety and improved accessibility.”
More wated cash in the ‘name’ of improvment.
Keeping fares lower or increasing buses in remote locations would be of more use. End free transport and get everyone to pay a little thus keeping fares low for all
Since there is only one bus operator on the island, why aren’t they maintaining there own bus stops?
In other areas shared bus stops fall under the local authority, but since no other bus operator is allowed to use the bus stops, SC should pay for this one. They have record profits anyway.
Yes, I feel it should be down to Southern Vectis to ensure that their bus stops are safe and easy for everyone to access. This reminds me of the recent announcement that there is government money available for the ferry companies to upgrade their disabled access and facilities. Why are they not doing this themselves without waiting to be given government handouts?
Absolutely right. Council Tax subsidising a private monopoly? – anybody would think we had a Conservative government.
As for ending free transport, there must be merit in making concessionary travel affordable rather than free, and obliging SV to use any extra revenue to dilute other fares.
How many “free” bus pass users are aware that each time they wave their card, IW Council has to pay SV a fixed sum (I believe in the region of £1.60)
If we are to make greater use of public transport, and get out of our cars, then bus services need to be more attractive and convenient. Also, if I may be a little indelicate, as a large number of Islanders are elderly, many of us cannot undertake long bus journeys for obvious reasons, so when can we expect busses to have onboard toilets?
The bus stops by the RSPA need doing, dark evening is worse
All we need now is the bus service to enable their use !
Are they going to improve the bus service to go with the improved bus stops? This should be paid for by Southern Vectis.
Can the improve the bus stop in St Lawrence and provide the busses to go with it?
But not Kassel kerbs so they are still too low
More Tarmac going down, we’re gradually going urban to please the developers and their enablers