THE SHOWBUS LONDON & HOME COUNTIES BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Arriva the Shires Optare buses
 |
 |
|||
Page 2 |
| |||
 Buckinghamshire later launched its "Rainbow Routes" branding for town services in High Wycombe and Aylesbury which operated alongside the "Rider" branding. The schemes were subsidised more in Aylesbury than High Wycombe as the former is expanding rapidly and new bus services are introduced to the developments at an early stage. Solo 0446 re-emerged as seen in May 2013 branded for Aylesbury's green route. Though the "Rainbow Routes" name and references to the colours still made, by 2016 Arriva vehicles in both towns ceased to be colour matched to the routes due to the inability to keep vehicles allocated as such. |
 |
 Bucks County Council went on to buy six of the somewhat unreliable Optare Alero sixteen seat easy access integral minbuses. The concept was good and typically stylish, as one would expect from Optare, but disproportionately expensive compared to van derived products with tail lift access for the disabled. A good example of why local authorities should not be dictating vehicle policy. The buses served in various capacities with a number of local operators including Arriva with "Rider On Call" and "Silver Rider" branding, the latter pioneering a service to the new Fairford Leys development which was subsequently served by Z&S Buses with Solo and Enviro200 buses branded Silver Rider. This bus, YN53SUO, was used on short lived dial-a-ride services and is believed to be in Marlow Court Gardens car park in May 2005. |
|
 The Alero was seen again the following month in High Wycombe's temporary bus station layover park during construction of the town's Eden Centre. |
|
This "Rider on Call" Alero, YN53SVD, is seen in Quoiting Square, Marlow, later in the year in October.
|
|
 By September 2014 0442 (Y42HBT) had acquired standard Arriva livery and was branded for Aylesbury's pink route 8 from Bedgrove to the town. Picture ref A5103 |
|
|
|
|||
Page 2 |
| |||