A model bus route for the future

Following a six-year project involving Arriva, Metro, WakefieldCouncil and Kirklees Metropolitan District Council, the final phaseof the model bus route scheme was presented to the Royal NationalInstitute for the Blind (RNIB) this week.

Based around the 126/127 Dewsbury to Wakefield service, thescheme has delivered a wide variety of improvements to the overallbus journey experience on the route including raised kerbs makingit easier for passengers to get on and off, new bus stopinfrastructure including shelters fitted with better lighting andinformation, and bus stop clearways to discourage parking at stopsand make it easier for buses to pull in close to the kerb.

Aimed at creating better ways for older and disabled people touse local bus services the project began in 1999. Route 126/127 waschosen as a pilot following discussions between Arriva plc, RNIBCorporate Partnerships, RNIB Disability Consultancy and JMU AccessPartnership.

The scheme has been progressed as part of the Yorkshire buspartnership which includes Metro, South Yorkshire PTE, West andSouth Yorkshire District Councils, York City Council and local busoperators including Arriva. The aim of the Yorkshire buspartnership is to improve the quality of bus services throughoutYorkshire .

Arriva, Metro, Wakefield Council and Kirklees MetropolitanDistrict Council have worked closely to provide all possiblesuggested recommendations. In total there has been a collectiveinvestment of over £300,000.

Phil Stone, managing director Arriva Yorkshire, said:

We are extremely proud to be a part of this scheme andwe are always looking for ways in which we can further improve ourservices to better meet the needs of all of our customers. We arecommitted to providing accessible services for our customers and wehave been working to ensure that customers with disabilities areable to use our services with confidence.

Metro chairman Cllr Karam Hussain said:

This is a perfect example of Metro and its partnersworking together with a single aim, to provide benefits forpassengers.

This joint approach, through the Yorkshire buspartnership means we can pool our resources, maximize improvementsand help enable the bus network to reach its fullpotential.

Albert Manifield, Wakefield Council's deputy cabinet member forregeneration, said:

The council is delighted to have played an integralpart in the scheme. It has improved the kerbing so that the lowfloor buses can dock with the stops and is introducing clearways atthe bus stops to keep them clear of cars.

Sharon Almond from JMU Access Partnership added:

We are delighted Arriva Yorkshire and all concerned inthe Model Bus Route have made considerable changes to this servicewhich enhances bus journeys for people with sight problems. We lookforward to seeing ongoing changes.