Yellow bus proves a hit in Ilkley

Children in Ilkley appear to enjoy travelling to school on their yellow school bus. Since the pioneering Yellow School Bus Scheme was launched in September 2003, more than 70 children a day have been using the service to travel to Ilkley’s four primary schools.

Ten per cent of primary school children in Ilkley now travel to school by public transport - compared to just two per cent before the scheme was launched. Over two-thirds of the children who have started using the yellow bus were previously taken to school by car, so fewer vehicles are now doing the ‘school run’.

The scheme is a partnership between Metro, the Bradford Road Safety Team, Education Bradford and Keighley & District Travel. It is one of only a handful in the country and was the first one to use a ‘traditional’ British bus rather than an imported American one.

The DfT has now appointed consultants Steer Davis Gleave to evaluate this and other schemes to see whether the idea can be introduced in other areas.

"This is just one of the innovative ideas coming out of the school travel plans being developed across the district," said Bradford Council's executive member for environment, councillor Anne Hawkesworth. "Already 71 schools in the district have written plans that meet the Council's standards - more than any other local authority in the country."

Results from a recent survey carried out by Metro indicate that the main reason parents choose to send their children on the bus is to encourage their independence. The children also particularly enjoy the social aspects of riding on the bus with their friends.

"The yellow bus is part of our commitment to educate the ‘whole child’," Jenny McDonaugh, headteacher of Ashlands Primary School said. "If children walk, cycle or use the yellow bus they learn valuable personal and road safety skills they simply cannot learn from the back seat of a car."

"Yellow bus schemes in West Yorkshire are achieving Metro's aims of delivering safe transport to schools, reducing traffic congestion and developing a new generation of independent public transport users," said Metro's Bradford spokesperson, councillor John Prestage. "Later this month Metro will be hosting a national Yellow Bus conference at which we will share our experience with transport professionals from across the UK."

Further information about this article can be obtained from Stephen Pearson, 01274 432517, press.communications@bradford.gov.uk