TAXIS should replace buses to help people who do not own a car to get around the countryside, a senior government advisor has said.
The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) believes a shared taxi scheme is the best way to provide public transport in areas where demand is low but the needs of local people must be met.
CRC chairman Stuart Burgess, the Prime Minister's rural advocate, said: "Rural bus provision has declined steadily over the past 20 years. This, combined with a reduction in local services, such as post offices and shops, has resulted in poorer access to many facilities for the 9.5 million people living in rural England."
He pointed to research which shows just half of rural households are within 13 minutes of an hourly or better bus service, compared with almost 90 per cent in urban areas.
"Even if buses are running, services are generally patchy, operate just two or three times a week, and can be inconvenient and expensive," he said.
The CRC wants the Government to support community schemes like shared taxis which can deliver "cheaper, subsidised transport, even in areas where there is currently none at all, allowing people better access to jobs and services, as well as reducing car dependence and cutting emissions".
Last year a report by the Commission for Integrated Public Transport (CfIT) backed the idea of shared taxis in rural areas.
It said limited demand for commuter routes and the need for time-sensitive services for hospital visits or dental check-ups, make it almost impossible for commercial operators to make a profit in the countryside. The CfIT urged ministers to launch a pilot scheme of a shared taxi service which allows travellers to pre-book transport, instead of subsidising regular bus services.
The body, which advises the Government, suggested the trial run could take place in Cornwall.
Dr Lynn Sloman, vice-chairman of CfIT said: "The UK should aim for shared taxi schemes to be developed to the same scale as in mainland Europe. Schemes there provide from five to 50 times as many passenger trips as typical schemes in England, and have achieved significant economies of scale.
"Shared taxi services only run when requested and so are more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than conventional rural bus services. But most importantly they offer flexible, affordable services which complement the wider public transport network. We are pressing for Government to fund a pilot to demonstrate the very real benefits offered."