THE innovative PickMeUp service in Oxford, which gives passengers an app to request a bus, is in the running to scoop three awards.

The Oxford Bus Company on-demand, ride-sharing service, which launched in the eastern part of the city last year, has earned national and international recognition across the transport industry.

Oxford Bus Company managing director Phil Southall said: “The response to PickMeUp has been phenomenal.

“To be nominated for three prestigious awards is highly encouraging.”

PickMeUp was the county’s first transport service of its kind when it was introduced in June, enabling passengers to request a mini-bus pick-up within 15 minutes at a bus stop using a mobile phone app.

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PickMeUp has been shortlisted in the Transport category in the Smart Cities UK Awards 2019.

It has also been shortlisted in the annual European Transport Ticketing Global Awards in the Most Innovative Customer Serving Operator category.

And sustainability charity Ashden has longlisted PickMeUp in the Air Quality Within Cities category for the prestigious global annual Ashden Awards.

Representatives from Ashden will visit and assess all organisations on the longlist before finalising its shortlist, with Oxford Bus Company due for a visit next month. Previous winners have included the city’s Low Carbon Hub.