APPENDIX I
WEST YORKSHIRE PASSENGER TRANSPORT EXECUTIVE
(METRO) YELLOW BUS PILOT SCHEMES
HEBDEN BRIDGE
Details
— The scheme began in February 2002.
— Two American Yellow Buses serve seven
primary schools, two different routes.
— Schools: Central Street, Colden,
Hebden Royd, Heptonstall, Old Town, Riverside, Stubbings.
— On average 68 children use the buses
per day (morning average 75, afternoon average 61).
— 105 children are registered to use
the bus in total.
— 50-60% bus riders formerly travelled
by car (20% by bus).
— Potentially saves around 25,000 car
journeys per year.
— Partners: The scheme is a
partnership between: Metro, First, Calderdale MBC (Safe Routes
to School) and the Countryside Agency (Rural Transport Partnership).
Each partner plays a role in the different aspects of the scheme:
|
| Partner | Role
|
|
| Metro | —Co-ordination between partners
—Communication with parents (including promoting the scheme)
—Issuing bus passes
—Monitoring and evaluation
—Funding
|
| Calderdale MBC | —Co-ordinating safety activities for children
—Communication with schools
—Advice on walking buses and supervision of boarding and alighting
—Funding
|
| First Calderline | —Operating and maintaining the buses
—Recruiting and training drivers
—Operating Yellow Bus control
|
| Countryside Agency | —Funding
|
|
— Yellow bus Control: This is a facility
for parents to relay messages to the driver. The driver has a
"register" of the children booked to use the bus each
day. If a child is not using the bus on any of the days they are
booked on (eg through illness), their parents must call the "Control"
to relay this message to the driver. First Calderline manages
the "Control".
Feedback:
— 15% to 60% reduction in school gate congestion.
— Positive feedback from parents, 80% extremely
pleased with the quality of the service.
— Main reasons parents give for using the bus; Concern
for the environment; Convenience; Encourage child to develop independence.
— Quote from parental feedback form:
". . . I think the service is run brilliantly . .
. it saves me using the car twice a day and getting stuck in all
the busy traffic . . . gives my daughter some independence . .
. I know she is taken to and from school safely . . . the driver
for bus B is really friendly and helpful"
|
|
