Brand new BAT bus for Bournemouth's residents

Residents in the Bournemouth Borough postcode areas BH1 - BH11 who are disabled or who have particular difficulty using public transport are able to take trips to nearby shopping centres and hospitals on the smart new purpose-built fully accessible Bournemouth Accessible Transport Bus (BAT Bus).

Delivered July 2008, the bus is funded by Bournemouth Council as part of their 'Getting About' initiative to make it easier for local people to access transport. The bus will be operated by Bournemouth Community Transport who provide a regular bus service for residents who are elderly or have mobility problems.

Councillor Robert Lawton, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport said: "With the addition of this brand new bus we can continue to offer, with the help of Bournemouth Community Transport, a vital service to those residents in the borough who have great difficulty getting around. It’s important that the elderly and less mobile have this service available to them so they can live as independently as possible and are able to access the shops and hospital when they need to."

"Bournemouth Community Transport are delighted to receive a new replacement BAT Bus and look forward to welcoming aboard many new members. We feel sure that the new BAT Bus with the side loading facility will make it easier for members to access the bus, whether on foot or in a wheelchair," said Dave Parsons, Community Transport Manager, Bournemouth Community Transport.

The service offers a weekday morning service to Castlepoint and Boscombe's Sovereign Centre costing £4.00 per return trip plus a minimal annual membership fee for the scheme. The bus drops members off at the Shopmobility unit at Castlepoint and Boscombe where members can hire an electric scooter, powered or manual wheelchair to assist them with their shopping. On their return, before boarding the bus, they can wait at the Shopmobility unit and have a cup of tea or coffee.

During weekday afternoons, the BAT bus provides a 'Hospital Visiting Service' to Royal Bournemouth, Christchurch or Kings Park hospitals for residents who need to attend outpatient appointments or visit friends and family.

The BAT Bus arrives at Castlepoint to collect members who have just finished their shopping, before returning home.

A patient arrives at the Cardiac department at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital for an out patient appointment