DORSET’S public transport is likely to be more of a DIY effort in the future as bus subsidies disappear along with many rural routes.

Controversially among the ideas being considered is bus pass holders having to pay a small fee for trips.

Local councils are being told that community minibuses and shared taxis are likely to replace many regular buses, along with ‘hail a ride’ schemes via the phone, or internet.

There could also be wider public use of school buses and adapted minibuses for older people and those with disabilities – when they are not being used for their primary purpose.

Chris Hook from Dorset Travel told a joint advisory, overview and scrutiny meeting in Dorchester on Thursday that radical thinking was needed if the county, especially the rural areas, is to have a transport service into the future.

He said that with route subsidies now largely disappeared commercial operators would not operate routes at a loss – and he hinted that this could apply to popular routes, especially along the coast, which were full every day with people who have a bus pass.

The committee was told by county council cabinet member Cllr Daryl Turner that a scheme to ask bus pass holders for £2 a trip was being considered – rather than lose those routes. He said that relatively small fee could bring in £7.9million a year across the county which would help keep routes running.

Mr Hook told the committee that technology was being trialled with Kingston Maurward College which can track the exact location of buses. If successful it could be used on public routes. Other ideas being looked at include doing away with some of the county’s 3,500 bus stops and allowing vehicles to stop anywhere, provided it was safe to do so.

“We have had budget reductions and we are now having to do things differently. It doesn’t necessarily mean stopping services but we may have to find new ways to deliver them…we are trying to get away from the idea of big buses going at a time you are told to go and looking towards services which will go when you want them to.” said Mr Hook.

“We need a bit of a culture change to do a bit more sharing. We are trying new things.”

Bridport Cllr David Rickard said the county was currently divided between urban and rural services. He said that while larger towns like Dorchester and Weymouth were relatively well served places like Bridport now had few buses after 7pm or on Sundays.

He said that unreliability has been a problem on many routes, leading to a decline in passenger numbers: “One thing that is the kiss of death for a service is not knowing when a bus is turning up or people not being aware that the timetable has changed.”

Sherborne councillor Peter Shoreland said that while he welcomed flexibility the loss of bus routes in his town meant that people were now struggling to do their shopping, or get to the GP, without having to pay for a taxi: “I would say about 50 per cent of the town no longer has a bus to use,” he said.