In 2007 we made a massive investment to renew our fleet to make the buses both accessible and environmentally friendly. We bought Mercedes-Benz Citaro single deckers and Scania OmniCity double deckers. They are all easy-access low-floor types and their fuel efficient engines produce fewer harmful emissions. Just one of the double deckers can take 87 motorists off our congested roads - and with 28 of them… well, you do the maths!
To really get this message across we created “Island Thinkers”. We teamed up with individuals who recognise the important social, economic, and environmental role the bus plays on the island.
The island’s MP, councillors, island residents, Chamber of Commerce, police and Crimestoppers, many tourist attractions and Wightlink have all become involved in the campaign, with their image and message blown up larger than life on the sides of the buses.
We have also put green messages on the backs of the buses - simple ideas to help reduce fuel bills and do that little bit extra for the planet. We’re not lecturing anyone – they’re just easy tips that you might not have thought of! We like to think we’re doing our bit too, by providing a viable alternative to using the car which reduces pollution and congestion in our town centres. Together, we can really make a difference for our island.