Phases of Passenger Travel
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SCARBOROUGH'S BUS PROBLEM
A Review of the Situation in Scarborough, w re the Corporation is Planning to Change to Buses IT was recently reported in The (foamnereal Motor that Scarborough Corporation was preparing a Bill for Parliament, to enable it to acquire the tramway system in the town and to replace it by a system of buses. Powers are also sought to enter into working agreements with private bus operators.
For a number of years this resort has been served by the Scarborough Tramways Co. on a considerable num bar of routes extending betweee the raidway station (the centre of the town), the north and south shores. Falsgrave, the Spa, etc. No tram routes, however, serve the South Cliff or Seamer Road,
both residential areas. The trains used are open-top double-deelk 1.,ehicles and have all been in service for a long time.
There are competitive bus services in many parts of the town. Early this century T. Robinson and Son, who for some time had operated horse brakes, tools to running motor chars-a-banes on their day trips. As early as 1907 we find the old observation type of vehicle in use for this purpose—with rows of transverse seats risffig in level towards the rear. Later, Robinson's Motors, Ltd., formed in 1914 from the old firm, turned its attention to local bus routes, and services were operated to Seamer Road and the •Soutla Cliff, also in corn petition with the trams to Scalby Road and North Bay, and on other routes.
About three years ago the company was absorbed by United Automobile Services, Ltd., which at or about the same time purchased all the other local bus servicsis functioning in the district. So MIN the war has develoned into one between two undertakings—the "United," backed by the London and North Eastern Railway Co., on one side and the trams on the other.
The town conneil intends, when it has taken over the Mins, to replace them by motorbuses or trolley-buses. This is partly due to the traffic congestion caused by the trams, particularly in Westborough, the hilly main street. It is hoped in the town that working agreements will be made with the "United" to prevent wasteful competition and to run joint services on certain routes. Scarborough is very well catered for during the season, as well as in the winter, by a large number of services to all parts of the North of England. The " United" operates from its Scarborough garage, in addition to the local services, a number of longer ones. A frequent service, two or three times an hour, runs to Whitby, with through ex
tensions to Middlesbrough, Gisboreugh and Saltburn. A new through service has been operated this summer for the first time : an extension of the Pickering service to Helmsley, U.'hirsk, Ripon and Harrogate, through some of the finest country in Yorkshire. Services also ran. to Bridlington, Scalby and Rayburn Wyke. The "Yorkshire Coast Express" service runs twice daily from Newcastle to Scarborough and Bridlington.
The West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., runs coaches to Harrogate and to Leeds, via York, and coast-to-coast services through to Blackpool. These prove to be particularly popular with the coach-travelling public.