A bus to provide access to the Yorkshire Dales launched this Bank Holiday Monday which was full to the brim wit h local people looking to enjoy the bank holiday sunshine in some of the most picturesque parts of Nidderdale.
The bus, which offers a service direct from Keighley, Bingley, Saltaire, Shipley and Otley - with connections from Bradford, was the result of a fundraising effort by Friends of Dales Bus who were there in force to see their hard work pay off as …of people boarded on Monday.
Alex Sobel MP, who launched the event from Otley alongside neighbouring MP John Grogan hailed the service as an achievement born out of passion and pragmatic courage.
He said: “It was a great pleasure, not only to launch such a wonderful achievement, but to spend the day with my family enjoying what such a service has to offer. We could get to Housean Gorge cheaply, quickly and easily. I was very impressed by the spirit and positive atmosphere and the friendly, professional staff who joined us on board. Not only does this service benefit those without access to a car, but traveling to the Dales on the bus brings its own benefits – it allows you to sit back and enjoy the journey through some of the most breathtaking countryside in England, plan walks that do not have to circulate back to a car and travel cheaply with great benefit to the environment. I hope people continue to use this service throughout the season and I look forward to a continuing relationship with Friends of Dales Bus where we can ensure that many more people get access to this wonderful natural asset right on our doorstep.”
Colin Speakman, Vice Chair of Friends of Dales Bus and leading author on the Yorkshire Dales said: “I am delighted to see the effort and hard work of so many committed volunteers pay off. The bus launch was a great success and we are pleased that so many people are hearing about our routes and are coming along to try it for themselves.
Our aim is simple: to give easy and affordable access to the outstanding natural beauty of Nidderdale. I am so pleased that Alex Sobel and his family came to spend the day with us and enjoy our bus routes, our cause is close to his heart and we look forward to working with him as well as John Grogan, who has been a great advocate for our cause, to ensure the future and push for meaningful legislative change that will ensure the future of our project and projects like it nationwide.”
John Grogan MP for Keighley said:
“Otley bus station is now a hub for DalesBus and particuarly just before 10am on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays in the summer no less than 3 buses are heading off into the Yorkshire countryside.
Passengers from Keighley can continue on the new service which starts from the town’s bus station directly into Nidderdale or switch on to a bus for Grasdington , Kettlewell and Malham. I am only sorry that the Yorkshire Dales National Parks Authority did not provide any funding for DalesBus in 2017/2018. Indeed according to a Parliamentary question I asked recently the ten national Parks authorities only spent £100000 between them on public transport . They need to do better.'