GMPTE Yellow School Buses take on the school run

Date published: 12/01/2007

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority’s Yellow School Buses are taking over 400,000 car miles off the road a year, according to a new report welcomed by the county’s transport bosses.

The congestion-busting Yellow School Buses are now running to 19 schools across the county. Most services are fully subscribed, benefiting over 1800 pupils. 560 of them were previously taken to and from school by car.

As well as taking thousands of car journeys off the roads each year, the services have helped to significantly improve pupil behaviour. Recorded incidents of anti-social behaviour on school bus services have reduced by an average of 72% since Yellow School Bus schemes replaced them.

Pupils using the fleet of 32 specially-designed vehicles are required to sign up to a code of conduct. They use the same seatbelt-equipped seats every day and all services have regular drivers to help build a good working relationship.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chairman of the Authority’s Policy Committee, welcomed the report: "The Yellow School Bus scheme has been a real success and is achieving both its key objectives – easing traffic congestion caused by the school run and providing a safe travelling environment for pupils to get to school. The feedback from schools, pupils and parents has been extremely positive.

"The specialised vehicles are also being put to good use for a wide range of educational-based trips, taking pupils to sport activities and on visits to museums, theatres and art galleries.

"We want to see more of these services running and I hope that we will be able to find the funding to introduce schemes at further schools this year."

The Authority is seeking to identify further funding opportunities to continue introducing new Yellow School Bus services over the next few years.

The services call at special pick-up and drop-off points close to pupils’ homes, with routes designed to provide maximum coverage for the locality.

All drivers have undergone an extensive training programme run by GMPTE, which includes training in customer care, first aid, disability awareness, health and safety issues and conflict avoidance.