Ride with pride! Transdev’s colourful celebration of diversity takes to the road

‘Everyone’s welcome on our buses’ message seen by thousands at York Pride as specially designed double decker makes its debut

Ride with Pride – the message is clear to all as Yorkshire-based bus operator Transdev’s newly-designed double decker takes to the streets of historic York.

Bus number 2421 has now become Transdev’s standard bearer for diversity with its colourful rainbow livery turning heads as it made its debut at the weekend at York Pride, the annual celebration showing the city’s support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Amid a sea of flags, whistles, banners and music, the Pride parade set off from Duncombe Place, near York Minster, at midday on Saturday (1 June 2024), led by another Transdev bus – bright red open-top York Sightseeing double decker number 4007, taking a break from its usual circuit of the city’s landmarks to join York Town Crier Ben Fry at the head of the procession.

And at the other end of the colourful cavalcade, Transdev’s newly-completed Pride bus appeared for the very first time in all its rainbow glory – making a fitting conclusion to the Pride parade as it made its way through the city streets to the Knavesmire, where a festival stage kept thousands entertained through the afternoon.

Transdev Project and Marketing Manager Matt Burley said: “The head-turning livery on our brilliant Pride bus has been created in-house by our own amazing designer Ashlie Minasian to promote equality among our customers, colleagues and communities.

“Our Pride bus will be out and about across the North throughout June, which is designated as Pride Month across the country to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and get the message across that everyone is welcome on our buses.

“We’re proud to support diversity in our communities, and to celebrate the fact that our colleagues and customers can be confident as the people they want to be, with respect for everyone. This Pride bus is our way of taking that message to thousands of people across the North.”

Four of Transdev’s team make a star appearance on the back of its Pride bus – Training Manager Dale French and bus drivers Carly Broadley, Sarah Stevenson and Chris Marsden.

From today, the Pride bus will be on the road with Transdev on its award-winning Coastliner routes linking Leeds and York with the North Yorkshire coastal resorts of Scarborough and Whitby.

Full details of all Transdev routes across the North are available online at: transdevbus.co.uk and on the free to download Transdev Go mobile app.