About
Bo'ness and Area Community Bus Association SCIO
Registered charity number: SC047023
Bo’ness and Area Community Bus Association is a registered charity which runs a not for profit minibus service from Bo’ness to Edinburgh via Blackness. Our membership is free to anyone over sixteen who lives in the Bo’ness Blackness area. Our organisation is managed by a small group of voluntary trustees, who along with our staff of two drivers, sustain our minibus service.
Because we are all users, customer service definitely comes first. We aim to provide clean comfortable minibuses, and the highest standard of customer care. We currently lease two Ford Trend seventeen seater minibuses, which operate between Bo’ness and Edinburgh under a section 22 permit from the Transport Commissioner. The buses operate on a scheduled service recognised by Transport Scotland, and qualify for Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) and the Concessionary Fares scheme for Aged and Disability card holders.
Our fare structure is designed to be competitive with fares being equal or less than the alternative route via Linlithgow. We also have the option of operating ‘members only’ services under a section 19 permit, which does not qualify for any of the concessions or Grants mentioned above and would have to be run only when full costs are met by the hirer.Our services are fully covered by Employers & Public liability insurance, breakdown cover, regular inspections and maintenance.We wish all our customers an enjoyable, safe journey.
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Operator’s Licence
TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER APPROVES OPERATORS LICENCE FOR BO’NESS and AREA COMMUNITY BUS After much waiting and nail-biting we finally received notification this morning that our Bus Service Operators licence has finally been granted. Our small team of trustees have been working tirelessly over the last six months raising funds and preparing our marketing for us obtaining an Operator’s Licence. We have done much since we started operating in May of 2017 when we addressed the fact that commercial operators had abandoned the midday services to Edinburgh. We took up the challenge and introduced the first scheduled Bus Service in Scotland, delivering a regular service between Bo’ness and Edinburgh. On the back of our success, Citylink supplemented our service by diverting the 909 to go via Bo’ness although they miss out the Town centre and the rural communities of Mannerston and Blackness.
Blackness Inn now open
Been down at the newly opened Blackness Inn today to make contact with the owner and leave timetables and brochures. Walter is doing a magnificent job promoting our Community Bus to all of his customers. The place was busy with passing trade today for the Castle and the John Muir Way; some people walking from Bo’ness. He has also been serving several foreign tourists who travelled on our bus this week from Edinburgh. Another great partnership arrangement! Pop in for a coffee or something stronger! The Community Bus stops outside the door. And you can walk back or take a later bus. Food is not served yet but will be in a few weeks. Thank you for your hospitality, Walter.