Cross Boundary Services are Reinstated Walsall, Wolverhampton and Coventry

People of all ages with limited mobility can now go further afield with Ring and Ride after the reintroduction of services that cross the Walsall, Wolverhampton and Coventry boundaries into surrounding boroughs.

The cross boundary services, which were suspended just over two years ago because of funding difficulties, were relaunched on May 4th as part of a new three-year business plan agreed by West Midlands Special Needs Transport (wmsnt), the charity which runs Ring and Ride, and its principle funder Centro, the region’s transport authority.

Launching the extended service at Walsall Town Hall was Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Theresa Villiers, wmsnt Chief Executive Peter Maggs and Centro’s Chairman Cllr Gary Clarke. With them were regular Ring and Ride passenger's Eileen Moseley and Judith Warren, both from Walsall.

Theresa said: "This new business plan between wmsnt and Centro is to be applauded as it will make a very real difference to the lives of Ring and Ride users in Walsall, Wolverhampton and Coventry".

“They will now be able to travel longer distances throughout the West Midlands to visit friends and relatives, go shopping and attend social events outside their local area.”

Peter said: “The Cross Boundary Service was originally set up to help people visit friends and relatives in hospital which they were unable to do because they could not use ordinary buses, and the Ring and Ride service, which focuses on local trips, was also unable to help".

“Its full reinstatement will provide a vital service for thousands of people with mobility problems throughout the West Midlands and it reflects the positive working relationship now in place between wmsnt and Centro, which will enable us to develop further services to help specific sections of the community”.

Gary added: "The return of this comprehensive extension to the popular Ring and Ride service is great news for users".

“It means they can now go much further afield and in turn that will expand their social horizons and quality of life.”

Judith, who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, explained how the extended service would make a “tremendous” difference to her life.

“Being able to go over the Walsall boundary means I can now use Ring and Ride to get to Digbeth Coach Station in Birmingham and get the coach to see my daughter in Wales. Without Ring and Ride I’d be practically housebound.”

Cross boundary services already operate in Birmingham, Solihull, Dudley and Sandwell. The launch means Ring and Ride passengers in Walsall, Wolverhampton and Coventry can now also travel over the boundary into neighbouring West Midland boroughs.

The Ring and Ride service provides around 2 million trips each year for around 75,000 registered passengers of the service. It is the largest service of its kind in the UK and the largest non-statutory service provider in the world.

In addition to Ring and Ride, wmsnt also operates an accessible transport contracts’ service which provides full transport support to three schools for Birmingham Education Department, described by the Department of Transport as “should be considered as best practice for such home to school operations throughout the UK”.

wmsnt also operates the Taxibus service in the ‘Meriden Gap’ which provides a local bus service that can deviate from its route to pick up people who are unable to get to a bus stop.