New bike-friendly Oban bus launched at Ganavan Sands
A new West Coast Motors bus promoting travel with bikes was showcased last week in an event at Ganavan Sands near Oban, writes Finn Nixon.
To mark the start of Scottish Bus Week, the bus was displayed at Ganavan Sands, where visitors had the opportunity to go for a tour of the “Bike Bus” on Monday May 22.
The mini bus has space for two bikes onboard and is part of an effort to connect rural communities and create more sustainable travel hubs in places like Oban.
It will be used on a variety of routes, including Oban town services and journeys travelling to Bonawe, Dalmally, Benderloch and Barcaldine, with the bus at Ganavan spending the day operating the 403 route.
Scottish Bus Week was an initiative from #lovemybus, a campaign that aims to increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the benefits of bus travel for everyone, with a tour of Scotland that finished on Sunday May 28.
The celebration featured a diverse range of activities and events across the country last week, showcasing the benefits of buses and their positive impact on our communities.
Communications director at West Coast Motors, Sharon Morrison, said: “Oban is such a scenic town where there is lots to see and do, and sometimes the bus doesn’t quite take you there. This means we have a first mile and last mile opportunity for people to take a bike with them.
“Collaboration through #lovemybus brings together those with expertise in walking, cycling and delivering bus services to share experience and leadership to do more. We should celebrate the walk to the bus keeping us healthier and choose bus for a day out to walk, cycle and connect with nature.”
The introduction of the bike friendly buses in Oban by West Coast Motors will be followed by their introduction in Campbeltown, Ardrishaig and on Mull.
Love My Bus programme director Jess Pepper said: “We want to make connections between our active travel modes, such as cycling and choosing to take the bus. This is to meet many aspirations for Scotland and to make it healthier, fairer, greener and stronger.”