All aboard! The WB2 shuttle service from Bridport to West Bay launches next weekend! Wondering how we’re involved? We recently awarded £20,000 to Bridport Town Council to support the running of this low-cost, frequent weekend bus service between the two places. The funding will help to minimise dependency on travelling by car, reduces carbon emissions, and increases accessibility – all the things we stand behind here at Western Gateway STB. 
Launching on Saturday 26 July, the bus will run every half hour on weekend afternoons and evenings, offering an easy and affordable way at just £1 to travel between the town centre and the coast. The route will begin at South Street Car Park, after which it will travel down South Street to the Crown Roundabout, continuing along West Bay Road and finishing at the bus stop near The George in West Bay. It will then loop back again. Please note the bus will not stop at Morrisons but will stop nearby on South Street and all the usual stops along the route.
On our recent trip to Dorset, where we got to try out the bus for ourselves, we spoke to Cllr Bolwell who said: This bus will make a dramatic difference to the lives of locals, as well as supporting tourism in the area. Having the bus in operation at the weekends will also support the economy and allow more people to experience Bridport’s bustling Saturday market. The bus is affordable, at just £1 per journey, and bus pass holders and children travel for free.”
From left to right: James White, Mena Abidakun, Owen Clark, Jack Wiltshire, Jessica Holroyd, Cllr Dave Bolwell, Hattie James, Ryan, Caroline Pearce
This new service is being delivered thanks to a partnership between West Dorset Commons, Bridport Town Council, and Dorset Community Transport (DCT).
From left to right: Cllr Ann Langridge (West Bay ward) and Josef Davies-Coates
The shuttle bus is one of three rural mobility pilot projects funded by Western Gateway STB this year. Other schemes include low-carbon shared mobility club in the Forest of Dean, and promotion of a Demand Responsive Travel service in Gloucestershire.
