A Rural Transport Development Officer has been appointed, using the Rural Bus Grant funding, to bring about initiatives of this type. In addition to car based schemes, the County Council is working to involve local people and organisations in designing rural bus schemes and innovative services which involve the commercial sector. Town dwellers will be encouraged to use rural bus services to reach the countryside for recreation purposes. The success of the application to the Rural Transport Partnership Fund greatly helps the Development Officer in being able to implement schemes in the rural areas that are developed through the partnership process. It is recognised that the transport needs of women vary from those of men reflecting the different working patterns and lifestyles.
Many women work part-time or stay at home for domestic and family reasons.
Accordingly, women commute less at peak times and make fewer work related journeys. Where households have a single car, public transport has a significant role for women who use buses twice as often as men to undertake multiple purpose journeys such as shopping and leisure. Also, women are more likely to walk, more so than cycle, as a form of travel. When the car is used, the type of journey tends to vary from that of men, women being more likely to use car for taking children to school. These travel patterns indicate where the prioities lie for women's transport.