Jump to content

FlexiRide

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Draft:FlexiRide)

FlexiRide
A FlexiRide bus operating at Tarneit station
A FlexiRide bus operating at Tarneit station
Overview
OwnerPublic Transport Victoria
Area served
Locale
Transit typeDemand-responsive transport
Number of lines9 service areas
Operation
Began operation25 November 2013; 11 years ago (2013-11-25)
Operator(s)

FlexiRide is an on-demand bus service operating in Victoria, Australia, which is overseen by Public Transport Victoria. FlexiRide is the successor to the previous on-demand service in Victoria, Telebus, which operated in Chirnside Park, Croydon Hills, Lilydale, Mooroolbark, and Rowville.[1][2]

FlexiRide services have no fixed route, operating only when passengers book a trip using a mobile app. These services operate within a fixed service area, and passengers can book trips anywhere within that service area to or from designated FlexiRide bus hubs.[3] FlexiRide services are often introduced to replace bus routes that get low patronage rates.[4]

FlexiRide has 9 service areas that serve 10 suburbs and towns. Each service area has its own bus operator and separate list of bus hubs.[3]

Description

[edit]

FlexiRide services have varying hours of operation. For example, the Rowville service runs from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm on weekdays,[5] while the Melton South service runs from 6:00 am to 9:30 pm on weekdays.[6]

Passengers book FlexiRide services from the FlexiRide mobile app and sometimes from a phone number.[3] A passenger may book from any bus stop or physical location in the designated service area to or from a FlexiRide bus hub. FlexiRide bus hubs can be major locations such as railway stations, schools, or shopping centres.

Bookings may be completed in advance. A booking may also be cancelled prematurely. Accessible services are available, where a passenger may be picked up from their house or an agreed accessible location.[5]

As FlexiRide is a cashless service, Myki is used to pay for travel. Normal Myki fares are charged to passengers.[7][8]

History

[edit]

The first bus service under the name "FlexiRide" was the FlexiRide service in Yarrawonga and Mulwala, which commenced on 25 November 2013. It started operations as part of a 12-month trial that replaced the original bus network in the two towns. More than 24 stops were placed around both towns, with taxis from Yarrawonga Mulwala Taxis used instead of buses.[9]

In October 2016, FlexiRide services expanded to Woodend,[10] becoming the first new bus service in the Shire of Macedon Ranges since the addition of new bus services in Gisborne in 2013.[11][12]

On 14 December 2020, Telebus routes 7, 8, and 9 were replaced by FlexiRide Rowville.[5] The new service included the launch of a dedicated FlexiRide mobile app, utilising software powered by the transportation app Moovit.[13] The Rowville FlexiRide service won the Design award at the 2021 UITP (International Association of Public Transport) Awards, which recognised "Flexiride’s convenience, flexibility, popularity and the ease in which passengers can order the service and get where they need to go."[14][15]

On 4 October 2021, FlexiRide services were expanded to Lilydale, Mooroolbark, and Croydon as part of a 12-month trial that replaced bus route 676 and Telebus routes 1, 2, 3, and 4.[7][16][17] The expansion of FlexiRide services to these areas marked the end of the Telebus service.[2]

On 12 December 2021, services expanded to Melton South,[18][19] which was an area targeted by Victoria's Bus Plan.[20] FlexiRide services in Melton South operate under a different mobile app, utilising software from the Bridj platform.[21]

On 21 February 2022, services expanded to Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula, as part of a 12-month trial which replaced bus route 787 between Safety Beach and Rosebud and bus route 886 entirely.[22][23]

Between 27 September 2022 and 23 October 2022, Public Transport Victoria held a community consultation survey for a potential FlexiRide service in Greensborough, which would involve terminating the existing bus routes 514 and 517 at Greensborough and the discontinuation of route 518.[24] Due to concerns, a FlexiRide service was not introduced.[25]

On 23 October 2022, services expanded to Tarneit North.[8][26][27] Between the service's commencement and 27 February 2023, an average of 210-220 rides per day was recorded.[28]

On 24 October 2022, the Liberal Party of Victoria proposed a FlexiRide service for Sunbury.[29]

On 31 October 2022, the FlexiRide service coverage area in Woodend expanded, as part of a 12-month trial. Under the trial, the service's hours of operation started earlier, and the coverage area expanded to Honeysuckle and Tweedle lanes.[30][31]

Service areas

[edit]

FlexiRide operates in the following areas.

FlexiRide service areas
FlexiRide Service Operator Bus hubs served
Croydon Ventura Bus Lines[32]
Lilydale Ventura Bus Lines[34]
Melton South Transit Systems Victoria[36]
Mooroolbark Ventura Bus Lines[38]
Rosebud (Mornington Peninsula) Ventura Bus Lines[40]
  • Rosebud Village Shopping Centre
  • Dromana Hub Shopping Centre
  • Rosebud Hospital
  • Rosebud Plaza[41]
Rowville Ventura Bus Lines[42]
Tarneit North CDC Melbourne[44]
  • Tarneit station
  • Tarneit Central Shopping Centre
  • Tarneit P-9 College
  • Baden Powell P-9 College
  • Truganina P-9 College
  • Tarneit Senior College[44]
Woodend Dysons[45]
  • Woodend station
  • Woodend Shopping Centre
  • St Ambrose Parish Primary School
  • Brooke Street Medical Centre
  • Woodend Community Centre
  • Woodend CFA (Country Fire Authority)
  • Norma Richardson Hall
  • High Street on Brewster Street[45]
Yarrawonga and Mulwala Yarrawonga Mulwala Taxis[46] Multiple[46]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Telebuses". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Alternative Transport Options - Eastern Suburbs | Knox". www.knox.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "FlexiRide". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Buses: Small vs big". Daniel Bowen. 1 January 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "New service FlexiRide is coming to Rowville". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  6. ^ "New flexible bus for Melton South". Mirage News. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  7. ^ a b "On-demand bus service FlexiRide expands to Chirnside Park, Lilydale, Mooroolbark and Croydon". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Connecting Tarneit North to bus services for the first time". www.sarahconnollymp.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  9. ^ "VIC's new approach". Australasian Bus and Coach. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Flexiride service hits the road in woodend | Mary-Anne Thomas". www.mary-annethomas.com.au. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  11. ^ Kennedy, Barry (23 August 2016). ""Flexiride" on its way to Woodend after long battle". Herald Sun.
  12. ^ "New bus networks for Craigieburn, Pakenham and Gisborne to begin 27-28 January 2014". Public Transport Victoria. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013.
  13. ^ Searles, Katie (11 March 2021). "Ventura and Moovit collaborate on Melbourne DRT solution". City Transport and Traffic Innovation Magazine.
  14. ^ Fitzpatrick, Catherine (12 February 2022). "VIC Transport and Volvo Buses win UTIP Awards". Australasian Bus and Coach. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Meet the winners of the 2021 UITP Awards". UITP. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  16. ^ "FlexiBus for flexi customers". Lilydale Star Mail. 3 September 2021.
  17. ^ Parker, Peter (10 September 2021). "Melbourne on Transit: UN 105: Done in the wrong order? FlexiRide buses coming to Lilydale". Melbourne on Transit. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  18. ^ "New Flexible Bus Services In Melton South". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  19. ^ Oliver, Sarah (12 November 2021). "Hop on board a new bus service for Melton". Melton and Moorabool Star Weekly.
  20. ^ "Victoria's Bus Plan" (PDF). Public Transport Victoria.
  21. ^ Cotter, Fabian (15 December 2021). "VIC Bus Plan's on-demand service expands to Melton South". Australasian Bus and Coach. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  22. ^ "FlexiRide comes to the Mornington Peninsula". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  23. ^ "Improving Connections On The Mornington Peninsula". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  24. ^ "Feedback sought on Greensborough's FlexiRide service". Roads & Infrastructure Magazine. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  25. ^ "FlexiRide Greensborough". Engage Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  26. ^ Yang, Ares (30 October 2022). "The On-Demand Bus Service – FlexiRide Is Now Available in Tarneit North". CDC Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  27. ^ "On-Demand Bus For Tarneit North". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  28. ^ "Tarneit North FlexiRide most successful in the state". Wyndham Star Weekly. 27 February 2023.
  29. ^ "Buses on demand for Sunbury". vic.liberal.org.au. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  30. ^ "Expanding Woodend's FlexiRide bus service". Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Star Weekly. 31 October 2022.
  31. ^ "Flexiride woodend bus service expanded | Mary-Anne Thomas". www.mary-annethomas.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  32. ^ "FlexiRide Croydon – Venturatransit". venturabus.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  33. ^ "FlexiRide - Croydon". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  34. ^ "FlexiRide Lilydale – Venturatransit". venturabus.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  35. ^ "FlexiRide - Lilydale". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  36. ^ "VIC". Transit Systems. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  37. ^ "FlexiRide - Melton South". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  38. ^ "FlexiRide Mooroolbark – Venturatransit". venturabus.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  39. ^ "FlexiRide - Mooroolbark". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  40. ^ "FlexiRide Mornington Peninsula – Venturatransit". venturabus.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  41. ^ "FlexiRide - Rosebud". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  42. ^ "FlexiRide Rowville – Venturatransit". venturabus.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  43. ^ "FlexiRide - Rowville". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  44. ^ a b "FlexiRide - Tarneit North". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  45. ^ a b "FlexiRide - Woodend". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  46. ^ a b "FlexiRide - Yarrawonga and Mulwala". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=FlexiRide&oldid=1288165556"