If you live in the north-west of Mull and there is no bus that goes where you need to go, community transport can get you there. It runs where no other public transport reaches, and it also carries visitors.
Ulva Ferry community transport
We operate this service. It takes people to work, to the shops, to medical appointments, to social events, to health and wellbeing groups and to school activities. A patient transfer service takes unwell islanders to hospital appointments on the mainland. The vehicles are electric and wheelchair accessible.
Visitors are welcome to use it too, whether you are heading for the Isle of Ulva, a boat trip, Calgary Bay or pony trekking.
What people say about it:
“The bus is a lifeline for me: it’s my only way to get my husband to and from respite, and if we had to go to a clinic we’d be depending on it.”
“The community car was used to drive my seriously ill mother-in-law regularly to the hospital on the mainland in Glasgow. It is used to collect life-saving prescriptions and insulin. My older son uses the service frequently to access after school clubs and social events.”
More detail is on the Ulva Ferry Community Transport website.
How to book the bus or the community car
TO CONFIRM: The old MICT page describes the service and links out, but gives no booking phone number, email or booking form, and no fares. Readers cannot act on this page as it stands. Needs the booking route, how much notice to give, the area covered and what it costs.
Until that is confirmed, the office can point you in the right direction: 01680 812900 or enquiries@mict.co.uk.
Ulva Ferry Community Bus, a separate organisation
The Ulva Ferry Community Bus scheme is run by a separate organisation at ufcb.org.uk, not by MICT. Its bus is fully wheelchair accessible and gives priority to the area from Burg to Kellan on the north-west coast, though any Mull resident can book it. There are regular runs to Tobermory and Salen, a scheduled request service between Calgary Bay and Salen, and an electric car available for community runs. To book, ring 07775531301 or email info@ufcb.org.uk. The scheme is often looking for more drivers and offers flexible hours.
TO CONFIRM: Two services are described on the old site with almost the same name: MICT’s Ulva Ferry Community Transport and the Ulva Ferry Community Bus at ufcb.org.uk, which the old /community-transport/ address redirected to. Confirm how they relate and which one a reader should contact, so this page does not send people to the wrong place.
Bus timetables
TO CONFIRM: No bus timetables appear anywhere on the old site. This page should either carry the current timetables or link straight out to the operator’s timetable page. Needs the operator’s name and link from MICT.
Electric vehicles
The Mull and Iona Sustainable Transport project has ended. For any electric vehicle enquiry, call the office on 01680 812900 or email enquiries@mict.co.uk.
The project ran until March 2016. It added transport providers, the charging point network and a charging map to the Travel Times transport guide, and 11,000 copies were printed for Mull, Iona and Oban. The number of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the island rose from 3 to 11 over the project, saving 8.92 tonnes of carbon. Local people took 141 test drives, 19 drivers took fuel efficient driver training, and a Mull and Iona Lift-Share Facebook group reached 452 members. The project won the Scottish Rural Parliament Award for Innovation and Transport.
TO CONFIRM: Whether the Mull and Iona Lift-Share Facebook group is still running. If it is, this page should link to it. If it is not, the mention should come out.
Using less fuel
If you drive, a few habits cut what you spend:
- Combine errands into one trip. A cold engine uses much more fuel for the first five miles or so.
- Take unnecessary weight out of the boot.
- Accelerate smoothly and anticipate slowing down rather than braking and accelerating in turn.
- Check your tyre pressures every fortnight. The right figures are usually inside the driver’s door.
- Keep windows, sunroof and air conditioning closed at higher speeds, and take roof racks and boxes off when you are not using them.
Energy advice
For advice on energy use at home, email energyadvisor@mict.co.uk or phone 01680 812909.
TO CONFIRM: The energy advisor post was funded by the Climate Challenge Fund and the two named advisors do not appear on the current team page. Confirm whether this service and this number are still live before publishing.