ABSTRACT
ReadiBus is an urban dial-a-ride service operating in Reading and surrounding suburbs in England, covering an area of approximately 70sq. miles. Reading has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years and the housing stock within the ReadiBus operating area varies enormously from terraced streets to leafy suburbs. The population in the operating area is about 200,000 people. The introduction of a call-queuing telephone system enabled 6 people to simultaneously call ReadiBus, one would be answered, while 5 would hold on. The intention of this was to expand ReadiBus’ capabilities to receive telephone bookings. In an attempt to expand the supply of the service, ReadiBus tendered for and won a Social Services contract to transport clients to day centres. The recent initiatives taken have improved our ability to fill our buses up, but when taken in context, it is clear that only a far larger organisation could ever be capable of consistently achieving higher loadings.
