The UK’s largest demand-responsive transport came together as a merger of West Midlands Bus On Demand and Ring & Ride. It will run throughout 2023 and will provide customers of both services with access to more vehicles, longer hours of operation, more extensive coverage and lower fares.

Over 100 metres of vinyl have been designed, printed and applied. Our team of 4 fleet-wrapping specialists stripped all minibuses of their existing vinyl, turning them back to the initial plane white surface. The minibuses were kept in cool conditions overnight and then applied the fresh branded vinyl the following day. 

West Midlands Bus On Demand logo and branding were applied alongside a total cover in red to the cab and various print and cut graphics to the sides and rear.

Tom Hardy, Operations Director at Hardy Signs, said: ”We are pleased to have helped bring to life the vision of West Midlands Bus On Demand and Ring & Ride. Our team did a great job on-site whilst ensuring minimum disruption to the service.”

“Our commitment to innovation and sustainability in the West Midlands has led us to harness the latest app technology to revolutionize the way we use public transportation. By freeing buses from fixed routes and stops, we are able to offer convenient and affordable alternatives to the car while simultaneously reducing congestion and addressing the climate change emergency,” remarked Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands. He further added that the WM On Demand service has been particularly popular among commuters whose travel routes don’t follow the usual paths. This overwhelming response has inspired us to expand the coverage zone to include the hospital and city centre and increase the number of buses available for WM On Demand passengers.”

More information: 

This new and improved West Midlands Bus On Demand service will offer greater benefits due to its larger fleet of fully accessible vehicles and extended operating hours from 06:00 to 23:00 on weekdays, 08:00 to 23:00 on Saturdays, and 08:00 to 15:30 on Sundays. As a result of this expansion, Ring & Ride customers will be able to access more areas around Coventry and will have more flexibility with their booking options.

Currently, Ring & Ride bookings are only taken one day before the journey, but under the new service, customers can book up to six days in advance. Additionally, there will be a new charging structure based on distance travelled, with half-price concession fares available for children under 18, elderly users, and customers with disabilities. The fare structure proposed will have existing Ring & Ride passengers pay just £1 for journeys under three miles and concession fares capped at £2 for longer journeys of up to 10 miles. This trial merger will be operational in 2023.