A MULTIPLICITY OF BUS SERVICES.
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Competitive Services in West Yorkshire Districts where Buses, Tramcars and Railless Vehicles are in Opposition.
COMPETITION undoubtedly has its advantages in many directions, but it is certain that the intensive competition which is taking place in many districts in the matter of passenger transport is not redounding to the benefit of those engaged in making a living in this braych of the industry. The time is ripe for an extensive opening up of new routes, and there are certainly many undeveloped areas which will produce a comfortable income for those who provide regular and efficient services to meet the needs. of the district, but the wild scramble for the patronage of the public in the face of the economic considerations which enter into the matter of organizing a bus service is most certainly detrimental to the status of the movement.
A typical instance of the manner in
which a multiplicity of motorbus routes lets sprung into being during recent months is provided by activities which are taking place in the Aire Valley, and in the district adjacent to the main line of the London Midland and Scottish Railway which runs between Shipley and Fikipton in, the West Riding of Yorkshire. Naturally, the railway carries the through traffic, and the size of the area referred to may be judged. by the fact that the third-class fare is under 2s. In that comparatively restricted area, however, there is a multiplicity of motorbus and railless routes, which run parallel to the' railway in some cases and radiate to peints not touched by the railway in. other cases, although it is a 'remarkable fact that at alrmast . every point Le re is a double sorvice provided by rival concerns,
In the ease of Shipley there are two bus routes, one to Baildon and another which runs over the hills into Wharfedale. On the Haddon route a local man opened up activities and was followed by the Premier Transport Co., of Keighley. Later, the place of the local man was taken by Messis. Blythe and Berwick, of Bradford, and the two companies are in keen competition.
On the other route into Wharfedale•there is competition over a considerable portion Of the distance between the Yeadon Transport Co., whose vehicles TIM to Guiseley via White _Cross, and Messrs. Blakey, whose tillsPS run to Otley via White Cross; whilst on the road from White Cross to Otley the service maintained by Messrs. Blakey is in direct opposition to that run by the Leeds Corporation with a number of railless vehicles.
From Shipley. to Binglev there are the alternative services of the railway and the Bradford Corporation tramway, whilst between Bingley and Keighley there is a service of tramcar e for a portion of the way, a through service of moterbesea run by the Premier Transport Co.' of Keighley, and the railway, although in the case of the tramcar and motorbus :services there is an agreement between the proprietors concerning fares and the picking-up of passengers by the motorbuses on the routes covered by the tramcars.
From Bing,lev bus services are run to Eldwiek and to Harden—two outlying' villages about a couple of miles away— and on certain days there is also a service between Keighley and Bingley, in addition to the through service, which has been organized to take in Morton— a village which is located off the main road. • This townshifts of Haworth and Oakworth in the Worth Valley are served by the Worth Valley Railway and the Motorbus or railless services of the Keighley Corporation., whilst the trolley. buses also run up the valley to Sutton, working on a route which is almostparaliel with the railway. A Bradford company have• expressed the intention of instituting a service on the same route as that which is served by the trolley-buses, and this will provide a further competitive factor. • •
Between Sits:len station and Silsden to-n the Silsden Haulage and Ohara Co. run a regular service whilst between Kildwiek station and bowling village Messrs. E. Laycock and .Sons run one of the oldest passenger-vehicle services in the country, and at week-ends and other occasions their buseajourney to the Laneshaw Bridge terminus of the Colne Corporation Tramways, but even on this route the municipal authorities of Coine are seeking to extend their motorbus services.
From Skiption the malls are taken by motorbus to Grassington by the vehicles run by Messes. Chapman, of Grassington; and a number of services about the town and to outlying villages is run by Mr. J. Hey; of the White Swan Garage, Carleton, but _even here a local man, whose vehicles run between Embsay'arid Skipton in the evenings, is in competition.
There is scarcely a district in We Yorkshire in which competitive services are not maintained, and almost all the routes have been opened up within the nest two years. Increasing attention is being paid to road transport services, both by those who have been engaged inother branches of the motor industry and by outsiders, who see possibilities in the new developments, but it can surely be anticipated that the number of concerns engaged in catering for the public's requirements will have to be reduced rather than increased; and reduced they must be before sonic of the undeatakings can be said to be working on a sound basis. AT THE present time Brazil is a good market for the sale of commercial vehicles. French manufacturers are well aware of this fact, and are directing increasing attention. to this country as market for certain, of their products. There is a demand in Brazil for motor lorries, nrotoe omnibuses and for lighter vehicles of from 1-ton-30-ewt. carrying capacity. American manufacturers have very naturally obtained a considerable foothold in the 'country, but there is nevertheless much scope for good European makes of vehicles, if they be backed by a pashful campaign of pub
licity. • In the city of 'Rio de Janeiro the elec. tric-tramcar reigned supreme, so far ae public transport was eorieertierl, until a very short time ago. Since November -last, however, nearly 70 motor omnibuses have been putinto service in the city. The new vehicles have heen warmly welcomed by the inhabitants of Rio, although they are by no means re•-presentative of rnotletin types of passenger-carrying vehicle. For the most part they consist of American 'lorry chassis fitted with bus bodies, and amongst them there is a number of Ford one tonners. One service, however—that which runs from the Palace Hotel out to the suburb of Copricabanne—is maintained by eight Thornycroft buses of smart appearance. On the other services in the city, all kinds of elderly European chassis are to be seen in use.
In the State of Minas, and also in the States of Sao-Paulo and Goyaz, road construction • is being earried out with energy, and in all of these states motor °minibus services are contemplated, with a • view to connecting up -towns which are not yet served by railways. In many of the big cities along the coast line of Brazil, motor omnibus services are already in active. operation.