Yorkshire Rider

Yorkshire Rider[1] was a bus company in West Yorkshire.

Not to be confused with Yorkshire Tiger, the active bus company.

Yorkshire Rider
Preserved Alexander Strider bodied Scania N113CRB in July 2009
ParentFirstBus
Founded26 October 1986
Ceased operationSeptember 1995
HeadquartersLeeds
Service areaYorkshire

History
Yorkshire Rider bus on The Headrow in Leeds in 1993

To comply with the Transport Act 1985, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive transferred its bus operations to an arms length company named Yorkshire Rider on 26 October 1986.[2]

On 21 October 1988, Yorkshire Rider was privatised, being sold to a management buyout.[3][4][5] In August 1989, Yorkshire Rider purchased West Yorkshire Road Car Company Leeds and Bradford garages, and associated routes, from AJS Holdings.[6]

In August 1990, the York businesses of Reynard Buses, Target Travel and York City & District were purchased.[7] On 15 April 1994, Yorkshire Rider was purchased by Badgerline. It was included in the merger of Badgerline with GRT Group on 16 June 1995 to form FirstBus.[8][9][10]

In September 1995, Yorkshire Rider was split into separate divisions:[11]

  • Bradford Traveller: covering Bradford with a depot at Bowling Back Lane
  • Calderline: covering Halifax and Calderdale with depots in Halifax and Todmorden
  • Kingfisher Huddersfield: covering Kirklees with a depot at Old Fieldhouse Lane
  • Leeds City Link: covering the Leeds area with depots in Bramley, Hunslet and Cherry Row

In February 1998 all were renamed as First Bradford, First Calderdale, First Huddersfield and First Leeds as part of the rollout of the FirstGroup brand.[12] Today these operate as First West Yorkshire and First York.

The Yorkshire Rider Social Club still exists in Leeds but no longer has formal connection with any bus operator. It also no longer receives any financial subsidy from such. It is one of the few remaining buildings where the Yorkshire Rider logo is still on display.[13]

In 2015 one First bus was repainted into Yorkshire Rider livery, Volvo B9TL 37674 (7674) to commemorate previous liveries.

References
  1. Companies House extract company no 1990370 First West Yorkshire Limited formerly Yorkshire Rider Limited formerly West Yorkshire Transport Company Limited
  2. West Yorks routes taken over by Rider Commercial Motor 4 October 1986 page 16
  3. Yorkshire's riding high Commercial Motor 3 November 1988 page 19
  4. Power to the People Commercial Motor pages 24-26
  5. Part 3 - 1986 to 1990 Yorkshire Rider the early days West Yorkshire Buses
  6. WYRC in takeover deal Commercial Motor 27 July 1989 page 16
  7. Rider takes control Commercial Motor 26 July 1990 page 19
  8. Badgerline links with GRT The Independent 5 April 1995
  9. Link-up creates second largest bus group: GRT and Badgerline in agreed £265m merger Herald Scotland 5 April 1995
  10. Part 4 - 1991 to 1994 Rider Group expansion West Yorkshire Buses
  11. Part 5 - 1995 to 1997 Badgerline & FirstBus, new names, new liveries West Yorkshire Buses
  12. Part 6 - 1997 to 1999 The early Metrobus era West Yorkshire Buses
  13. Yorkshire Rider Social Club Archived 3 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine Leeds Social Clubs
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