ArrivaClick launches new on-demand service for Ebbsfleet Garden City
Arriva is launching a new flexible bus service in Kent funded by residential homebuilders Redrow and landowner Henley Camland. The ArrivaClick service will provide a new route that can be booked on demand, aiming to offer flexible and cost effective public transport with the convenience of a private taxi.
As part of the development of 15,000 homes in Ebbsfleet Garden City residents and visitors will benefit from a new and more sustainable way of getting around, reducing the need for private car ownership.
The service is simple to use through the ArrivaClick App powered by technology from ViaVan. Rides are booked directly from a smartphone by selecting a pick-up and drop-off location. The app will enable multiple riders to share the same vehicle, directing passengers to a nearby virtual bus stop within a short walking distance for pick up and drop off.
This allows for efficient shared trips without lengthy detours. The app will also display the price and time of each journey and allow tracking of the ride.
The service will run seven days a week starting at 06:00 and operating through to 01:00, except on Sunday when services will stop at midnight. Fares start from £1 and are based on trip distance. Weekly passes and credit bundles are also available.
Adam Toone, business development director, Arriva UK Bus, says: “ArrivaClick will enable on demand commuter connectivity like never before, whilst providing the satisfaction of a greener way to travel.”
Ebbsfleet is the fourth region to receive the demand-responsive transport solution, which was first introduced by Arriva in 2017. The service includes up to three minibuses, seating up to 15 people (currently a reduced capacity of six to ensure social distancing), operating within a defined operating zone.
All the mini-buses are fully accessible, with space for pushchairs and front kerbside double door access and a low-level fold-out wheelchair ramp. Passengers can pre-register as a wheelchair user.