All aboard! How on‑demand public transport is getting back on the road

Fusion of tech firm software and local council infrastructure may herald on-demand bus services 2.0

During the early stages of the pandemic, Transport for Wales (TfW) decided to try something new. In May 2020 it launched fflecsi, an app-based service that allows people to book a shuttle minibus from floating bus stops" near their homes directly to their destination.

Available in 11 locations across Wales, the service was an immediate hit: in five weeks passenger numbers grew 150%, and in its first 12 months it served 50,000 trips. Best of all, 9% of its riders were people who hadn't previously used public transport. As one passenger said: This is too good to be true. This is Pembrokeshire, we don't get transport like this."