Yellow bus scheme to be stopped

Only 66 pupils use the service, say the council

An American-style yellow bus credited with improving attendance in Bristol is being dropped after a two-year pilot.

The scheme was launched in June 2003 for pupils at Henbury School as a joint initiative between the city council and First Bus.

The service will now end after December 2005 as it is not cost effective, and pupils already use sustainable transport, said the council.

Head teacher Clare Bradford said she was "not happy" with the decision.

Other initiatives

"It has been incredibly popular and successful. It has got children to school on time and reliably, and keeps them off the roads."

But David Bishop, director of planning, transport and sustainable development, said that on average, only 66 pupils use the service which costs £30,000 a year to run.

"Our findings show that 68% of the children on the bus were already using sustainable modes of transport to get to school before the scheme was introduced.

"There has been some improvement in attendance since the bus was first introduced but it is hard to tell whether this is a significant reason or whether the many other initiatives introduced by the school are responsible."