A Boris Bike-type scheme and on demand buses are set to be rolled out in Watford this year as the Mayor pledges to tackle congestion and pollution in the town.

Peter Taylor has also revealed a transport app focusing on traffic information in Watford is also gathering pace.

With Watford growing and only going to get bigger, the council is taking steps to ensure the town does not come to a grinding halt.

One of Mr Taylor’s ideas is to bring in an ‘on demand bus service’.

A similar scheme already runs in Liverpool and Oxford and involves a fleet of minibuses which passengers can book to take from A to B. It’s like booking a taxi but the buses will provide Wi-Fi, have USB ports, and ultimately be cheaper. In Oxford, a fare is £2.50 under the PickMeUp service by the Oxford Bus Company.

Customers pay a per mile charge and can arrange to be picked up from a particular location. The catch is that other people can book to be collected which means your journey could be diverted – but you will always pay the cost of your initial journey.

The minibus will seat around 15 people and is designed to be used as an alternative to travelling by car around Watford. The scheme, which was part of the Mayor’s election manifesto, is supported by the Lib Dems budget.

The on demand bus service could be in place by the summer.

The Mayor is also actively looking for developers to create an app which provides all the transport options you need in Watford in one place. Taxis, buses, bikes, or trains, and even parking spaces - the app aims to provide booking options and real-time departures.

A bike hire scheme could also be hitting our streets this year – just like the Boris Bikes - now Santander Cycles - in London. The council is currently looking at providers and is looking at hubs at Watford Junction and other key locations around town for the bikes to be hired.

Now Mr Taylor, who has brought in cycle racks in the High Street as well as Watford Junction, and introduced dedicated cycle lanes in the town centre, wants to hear from the public about their views on cycling in the town.

A survey can be completed at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Cycle-Survey-2019. Three people who fill out the survey will win a £50 intu voucher.