Connect Northern Test Valley Transport On Demand – John

John has been using the Test Valley Connect Transport on Demand service since March 2025. He first heard about it through social media and then again at a stand Community First were running at a local bus stop.

“I thought I’d give it a go. I don’t drive, by choice, so it seemed like a good way to get around more easily.”

The Test Valley service allows people to book journeys between around 350 bus stops, through an app or by phone, connecting smaller villages and rural areas where public bus routes no longer operate. It’s flexible, affordable, and designed to make local travel easier for everyone.

For John, it’s opened up a whole new way of getting out and about. He mainly uses the buses for leisure trips with his wife, heading into the countryside for walks or to visit pubs for lunch.

“We love exploring new places. There are around thirty-odd pubs along the route, and sometimes we’ll go from one to another just to see what they’re like. I’ve even been to a few beer festivals thanks to the service.”

The flexibility is one of the things he likes most. He says “I can be sitting in the pub, decide I want to move on, and I can book a ride to another stop, giving around 30 minutes notice. It’s brilliant.” He’s also used the service to drop off letters to friends.

Shown above is a great example of the service where John and his friends used the Transport On Demand service to travel to The Crook & Shears in Upper Clatford and then after a nice walk along the valley to a Music and Beer Festival at the Clatford Arms, were easily picked up by the service again to return home.

Although he also enjoys cycling, the service has made a real difference to how often John and his wife can get out and widened the options of places they can go. “It’s given us more freedom. We can go for long walks in areas that would’ve been difficult to get to before. Taxis are expensive and not always reliable, but this service is responsive, and the drivers are brilliant. I’ve never waited more than five minutes.”

John says he would absolutely recommend the service to others. “A lot of people think it’s only for older people, but that’s not true at all, it’s for anyone. It’s a great addition to the community.”

With local bus routes in his area now cut, the Connect on Demand service has become more important to him than ever.

“It’s really keeping people connected – I can still see my friends, get out for a country walk or a sociable meal, and not feel limited.”