Two innovative Cardiff Council schemes have won prestigious transport awards.
The City Centre Mobility Assistance scheme consists of two electric three-seated golf buggies which travel around the city offering people in need a convenient lift to a destination of their choice.
Launched in October 2010, the scheme has proved hugely successful with more than 9,000 passengers using the buggies. It has been praised for penetrating the pedestrianised areas of the city centre, allowing passengers much more freedom to get around.
The Independent Travel Training Scheme provides training and support needed to enable young people with special educational needs to travel to and from school.
Team members work on a one-to-one basis with pupils in a range of Cardiff’s secondary schools to support them in making the transition from privately-contracted taxis to using public transport to travel to school.
Both schemes were nominated as finalists in two categories of the CILT (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) Wales National Transport Awards, which took place at City Hall last week.
The City Centre Mobility Assistance Scheme won the award for ‘Delivery of a Transport Scheme Showing Innovation/Excellence’ while the Independent Travel Training Scheme won the ‘Innovative Solutions’ category.
Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Traffic and Transportation, Councillor Lisa Ford attended the ceremony.
She said: “I am delighted that these two great schemes have been recognised by winning these awards.
“The Independent Travel Training Scheme is a fantastic initiative that makes a real difference to people’s lives by equipping young people with Special Educational Needs the necessary skills and confidence to travel to and from school on public transport on their own.
“The staff who work on this scheme deserve huge praise for the dedication they give to it. Being able to use public transport has opened up so many more opportunities for the young people on the scheme who have grown in confidence as a result.
“In terms of the City Centre Mobility Assistance Scheme we have received hugely positive feedback from those who have used this service. Customers have taken the time to write to us directly, as well as the press, commending the service and offering their encouragement for its continuation.
“The city centre is undergoing a transformation in terms of creating a first-class retail environment and this scheme signifies an ongoing balance being struck between regenerating the city centre, and making it available to all.
“The Council is proud of the recent developments and improvements in the city centre, and will continue to strive to make these as widely available as possible to all who visit the city centre.”
