Memorandum submitted by West Yorkshire
Passenger Transport Executive (Metro) (ST 24)
YELLOW BUS SCHEME
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 In the past 10 years the proportion
of school journeys made by car has nearly doubled from 16% to
29%. Nationally one in five cars on urban roads at 8:50 am (during
term time) is used for taking children to school. The average
journey length has also increased from 1.1 to 1.3 miles for 5-10
year olds and 2.3 to 3.1 miles for 11-16 year olds.[1]
2. VISION
2.1 Metro recognised, that a step change
was required in the provision of school transport not only to
tackle congestion problems but also to develop the next generation
of public transport users and to improve education attainment
through improved attendance. Metro recognised that the provision
of school transport is a cross cutting issue affecting both transport
issues (congestion, safety) and education issues (behaviour, reduced
truancy, increased readiness to learn, school start times) as
well as social inclusion issues.
2.2 Metro therefore developed a vision for
Education Transport in 2000.
"To work in partnership to provide an
attractive, high quality home-to-school bus service designed to:
— Reduce car dependence: and
— Encourage bus use into adult life."
2.3 The key features of the yellow bus vision
are as follows:
— Dedicated, highly visible vehicles.
— Highly trained and dedicated drivers.
— Allocated seat for each child.
— Localised pick up points.
— Register of children using the bus.
— Parental assistance with supervision.
— On vehicle entertainment.
— Highway infrastructure measures around
schools to facilitate school buses.
3. PILOT SCHEMES
3.1 Metro undertook its first pilot schemes
in Hebden Bridge and Ilkley in 2002. Details of these first schemes
are attached as Appendix I and II. These schemes have been extremely
successful with mode shift, from car to bus, of over 60% in both
schemes. Metro currently has 11 pilot schemes underway. (See attached
Appendix III)
4. BEST VALUE
REVIEW
4.1 Metro undertook a Best Value Review
of Education Transport during 2002 in order to test its vision
for the future delivery of school transport provision. The results
indicated support for the vision and the continued development
of the yellow bus pilot schemes.
5. MAJOR SCHEME
BID
5.1 In July 2003, Metro prepared and submitted
an Annex E bid for capital funding to implement a Yellow Bus scheme
within West Yorkshire as part of the Local Transport Plan process.
Metro ensured that discussion and workshops took place with a
range of partners and stakeholders including the DfT, the DfES,
the ODPM, GOYH, Setpoint, LEAs, Bus Operators and vehicle Manufacturers.
The DfT announced in December 2003 that Metro had been successful
in its bid for funding of £18.7 million. The scheme will
enable Metro to work in partnership with the five Districts in
West Yorkshire to procure, set up and administer a fleet of 150
Yellow Buses that will provide home to school transport for pupils.
In addition the fleet will be available for all schools to use
for education, training and sporting/leisure travel outside the
peak home to school travel times.
5.2 The implementation of the Yellow Bus
scheme will be in three phases with 30 vehicles operational in
2004-05, and 60 in each of the subsequent two years. The following
features will be included in the scheme:
— DDA compliant with access for those
with mobility impairments;
— Two home-to-school trips in the morning
and evening;
— Maximisation of vehicle use outside
of school run times for children involved in education, training
and sporting/leisure activities;
— Highly visible vehicle to make other
road users aware that the vehicles are used exclusively by children;
— Dedicated, trained drivers who will
know the children and monitor boarding and supervise appropriate
behaviour;
— Allocated seats so that no children
have to stand;
— Seat belts and passive restraints
to ensure safety is not compromised;
— Call centre to provide point of contact
for those requiring/not requiring the service and ensure all children
are accounted for;
— A register of children on the vehicle;
— Complementary highway infrastructure
to enable safe and secure boarding;
— Localised pick-up points; and
— Proactive marketing promotion through
partnership.
5.3 The initial pilot studies at Hebden
Bridge and Ilkley have demonstrated how addressing the issues
that prevent parents and children from using public transport
can have a major impact on mode choice. This has continued to
be demonstrated with the new pilots introduced this year as well
as helping to tackle the issues of poor behaviour on public transport
and absenteeism from school. Metro is confident that the roll
out of the yellow bus scheme will continue to deliver the benefits
on a much bigger scale across West Yorkshire.
April 2004
1 DETR Best Practice for increasing bus use for journeys
to school. Back
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