Free bus service more than doubles number of passengers
Published: 4th September 2012
The South Lakes FreeRider, a free bus service linking some of the Lake District’s most prominent attractions, has welcomed almost 7,000 passengers during just 30 days. That compares to 3,000 passengers during the same period in 2011.
The service is the result of an innovative collaboration between a group of local businesses, who joined together to fund and implement this great new way to get around.
The 2012 FreeRider launched in July and ran until the end of last week, carrying an average of 230 people during each day of operation.
Ian Wilkinson, HR & Operations Manager for Windermere Lake Cruises, says, “Last year’s scheme was very successful, but this summer, the popularity of the FreeRider has hugely surpassed our expectations. The South Lakes Freerider is a great example of local businesses and traders working together to provide a service which both locals and visitors can enjoy.”
The full list of businesses who helped make the 2012 service possible included:
- Café Ambio
- Cartmel Traders
- Ducky’s Farm Park
- Haven Holiday Park
- Holker Hall
- Lakeland Motor Museum
- Lakes Aquarium
- Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway
- Lakeside Hotel
- Rusland Pool Hotel
- Whitewater Hotel
- Windermere Lake Cruises
- Yew Tree Barn
Financial backing from Ulverston Community Partnership and the Go Lakes Travel Programme, funded by the Department of Transport, has also contributed to the group’s successful collaboration and has helped make a range of attractions more accessible to all.
