First Bus Bradford team gears up for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

The First Bus depot in Bradford is gearing up provide a vital supporting role to Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

The bus operator is an Official Travel Partner for the year-long celebration across the district and its team, including nearly 400 drivers, will be providing a friendly face and helpful advice to the millions of residents and visitors making trips to attractions next year.

First Bus is working in partnership with the organisers to promote the sustainability goals of the culture and arts festival by encouraging everyone to consider greener travel to visit attractions, so lowering their own carbon footprint and helping reduce traffic congestion.

First Bus is also providing support to enable the hundreds of City of Culture volunteers to travel to venues and events to assist visitors.

John Roxburgh, Head of Operations for First Bus North & West Yorkshire, said: “The excitement is building as we get closer to the start of the year. We’re planning a dedicated display area in the depot to keep everyone, especially our drivers, updated with the calendar of events and grow our knowledge to support existing customers and visitors new to Bradford.” 

A specially branded Bradford 2025 bus is already travelling on routes across the city, carrying the message “Be Bold. Be Bradford.” And plans are underway to transform other buses with the help of young people and local artists.

Dan Bates, Executive Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, said: “We’re thrilled to have First Bus as an Official Travel Partner for Bradford 2025. Their support not only helps ensure that residents and visitors can travel to our events with ease, but it also reinforces our shared commitment to sustainability.

“With First Bus drivers acting as ambassadors for Bradford 2025, we’re creating a vibrant, welcoming experience for everyone who joins us in this exciting year ahead.”

First Bus drivers will be acting as unofficial ‘ambassadors’ alongside the thousands of volunteers recruited to guide people to events. The aim is to help passengers as they board buses and answer queries about venues, locations and routes.

Drivers will wear the distinctive ‘Bradford 2025’ badge on their uniforms, and all buses in the First Bus fleet will flash Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture on the destination screens together with a special vinyl display on the livery.

“Our team and our fleet will be a living, moving billboard for the City of Culture, helping to keep this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle in the minds of local people and newcomers to experience the brilliant entertainment and diversity in communities throughout Bradford,” added John Roxburgh.

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