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References
are to RPS full draft, not Executive Summary.
The
services and requirements fall into three categories:
BASIC
YEAR-ROUND SERVICES
These
run between settlements. Principally
they serve the local working population but one or two cross Snowdonia
giving access to walks and climbs even on Snowdon itself.
RPS
notes that "Snowdonia...already has a public transport infrastructure
that is better than many comparable localities and is capable of upgrading
and improvement", (4.28). In
fact, within the GK area, these services appear to be very little used
though a visible increase should follow the granting of OAP free passes.
However, it seems impossible that the low take-up could be simply the
result of programming services at exactly the wrong times of day.
Comment.
Before recommending any scaling up of the basic infrastructure it seems
advisable to mount a household survey to ascertain whether any significant
unsatisfied demand exists.
DEMAND
SERVICES; THE SNOWDON SHERPAS
These
run from the towns and villages to the Pen-y-Pass terminus. Principally they serve recreational visitors though local
residents sometimes make use of them. They
are scaled down off-season.
Maximum
demand could be estimated at high season. Bank Holidays and weekends except
that it is often suppressed by weather conditions.
At present this service is under-used because Snowdonia is divided
administratively between Gwynedd and Conwy and neither county distributes
its transport booklet outside its boundaries.
The timetables at the bus stops seem poorly designed.
Comment.
First, a slim Sherpa information booklet should be easily available in every
village. This should simply
cover the Sherpa routes in both counties together with the few other
services giving access to the mountain blocks. Second, the bus stop
timetables should be redesigned with particularised sheets for each stop. ('Buses to X. via A, B. and C, leave this stop at the
following times -- .....'. To
know which of the five or six operators is providing the bus is not
essential.)
Third,
the Insulting VDUs ought to be scrapped Immediately and, eventually,
reasonably comfortable vehicles would be appreciated.
Demand
on all bus routes in Snowdonia would be considerably increased by linking up
a system of long-distance valley paths.
This is acknowledged in RPS 5.ll.iv.
The demand can only follow the provision.
DEMAND
SERVICES - SHORT-DISTANCE SHUTTLES
These do
not exist at present but a need is evidenced between Pen y Gwryd and Pen y
Pass by the number of people seen walking this walled pavement-less road.
Few walkers are prepared to wait a half-hour for a three-minute ride.
It is
less certain that there might be a call for a shuttle at Ogwen.
Walkers tend to park as close as possible to the access points they
need. Even if unsuccessful they
are only faced with a level road with pavement provided.
However,
with suitable promotion it is possible that minibus shuttles might
profitably be operated at various other locations.
For example, the FC has discovered that car drivers are prepared to
pay £4 for a seven-mile waymarked scenic drive past Llyn Elsi.
A shuttle from Betws-y-Coed to the lake outfall would spare walkers
short of time or energy the long ascent and permit a picnic or the circuit
of the lake in 90 minutes. This
could be a viable proposition at high season and weekends.
The
service ought to be modelled on the 'Dolmush' system in Turkey and those
seen in other Eastern Mediterranean countries.
The minibus leaves immediately if filled immediately.
Otherwise it leaves perhaps ten minutes after the first person boards
or immediately if demand is known to exist at the other end.
Llanrwst, 19/11/02
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