Dial-A-Hire - Group Hire Service

The company operates an expanding group hire service to supplement the door-to-door provision.

Backqround
This facility grew from the need for affordable accessible transport for the voluntary sector. It was recognised that in addition to the door-to-door service for individual passengers provided by
Dial-a-Journey, there was a demand for additional transport by groups of passengers.

As the core service grew busier, the needs of both individuals and groups were increasing. In an area where accessible transport was not provided by mainstream public transport operators at that time, the only other alternative was by statutory social work provision. The presence of Dial-a-Journey made a large impact on the lives of those who were previously unable to travel. This is verified by our own chairperson.

As normal with a growing service, it is difficult to balance the needs of a group with those of the individual. When resources are tight it is often difficult to meet demand. If a journey is given to an individual, it can mean that a group may not be able to get transport.

It was with this in mind that when two new vehicles were purchased for the core operation around 1992, instead of the oldest vehicles being sold, they were retained and offered to groups on a self-drive basis at an affordable cost. The service was well subscribed, and popularity continued until the vehicles outlived their reliability. Around the same time accessible transport provision was increasing in the area, and our self- drive service was coming under pressure to survive.

However the decentralisation of local government in 1996, meant that accessible transport provision became very scarce once more, and an opportunity to fill a gap in the market arose. As part of a fleet upgrade, more reliable vehicles were acquired and liveried in corporate colours that incorporated advertisements for the self-drive facility.

Additionally, the restriction of groups only being able to hire the vehicles was lifted, and individual members of the scheme or their families were offered the opportunity to hire the vehicles at an affordable cost.

With the demand for accessible minibuses increasing, and the needs of those who hire from us also changing, it is recognised that hiring a full size minibus may not always be the most appropriate vehicle. It was this in mind that a second hand Ford Fiesta Chairman vehicle was purchased in 2001, and a Citroen Dispatch came in 2002. Both these vehicles are proving to be useful additions to the fleet. Self drive is currently undergoing it's first review in a number of years due to changes in legislation and costs.