DalesBus

DalesBus
HeadquartersGargrave, North Yorkshire
Service area
Service typeBus and coach
Websitewww.dalesbus.org

DalesBus is a bus network serving the Yorkshire Dales and managed by Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company, a volunteer-run subsidiary of the Yorkshire Dales Society.[1]

Services are funded by organisations, including the National Trust, West Yorkshire Metro, Yorkshire Dales National Park, and community groups. Over 30,000 passengers used the network in 2019/20.[1]

Some services only operate at weekends and on bank holidays, from Easter until late October, though others are year-round.[2]

The DalesBus Ramblers organise a programme of guided walks in the Yorkshire Dales.[3]

History

The service began in 2007 with a single route between Ilkley and Skipton.[4]

Controversy

In 2015, North Yorkshire County Council withdrew English National Concessionary Travel Scheme payments for some of these services, regarding them as only for "tourist use" and therefore outside of statutory provision.[5] In the following year, Lancashire County Council made the decision to follow suit, citing similar reasons to do so.[6]

Services and operators

As of 2022, the following services are operated under the DalesBus brand.[7]

Operator Service(s)
Arriva North East 831
Dales & District 138, 138A, 139, 144, 159 & 856
East Yorkshire 822 & 875[a]
Transdev Blazefield 24, 59, 72, 821, 873 & 884
Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire 75, 81, 82, 580, 581, 583, 830 & 881
Little White Bus 30, 113 Garsdale Station Shuttle & 156
North Yorkshire County Council 11, 72A, 155 & 210
Reliance Motor Services 74, 825 & 875[a]
Upper Wharfedale Venturer 72B
Western Dales Community Bus S1, S3, S4, S5 & S6
York Pullman 874
  1. ^ a b Service operated jointly by East Yorkshire and Reliance Motor Services.

In 2016, route 830's commentary free journey through Swaledale, was an episode of television series BBC Four Goes Slow entitled All Aboard! The Country Bus.[8] The episode saw a series record audience of 800,000.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Annual Report and Statement of Community Interest Delivery 2019–20" (PDF). Dales & Bowland CIC. 13 June 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Why the value of rural bus services cannot be overstated in our National Parks". Yorkshire Post. 28 March 2018. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Dalesbus ramblers". Dalesbus. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  4. ^ "DalesBus service shortlisted in National Transport Awards". Craven Herald. 25 August 2013. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Colin Speakman: Devolution key to transport's brighter future". Yorkshire Post. 3 January 2015. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  6. ^ "OAP bus pass ban 'could lead to end of scheme'". Lancaster Guardian. 4 April 2016. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  7. ^ "DalesBus Timetable Booklet". DalesBus. 16 April 2022. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  8. ^ Jeffries, Stuart (6 February 2023). "Spring Walks review – not even a trampolining goat can save this feelbad TV". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  9. ^ Foster, Patrick (30 August 2016). "'Slow TV' bus tour of Yorkshire Dales drives nearly a million viewers to BBC Four". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.