About this bus
Last updated February 2009.
This bus is run by Pat Read, that's me. My wife and I have
two
daughters at Oxford High, and I run this bus to get them there.
I will continue to run this bus for many more years, as my youngest
has seven years of school to enjoy.
I hire a coach and driver from
Tappins on a daily rate. If I don't sell enough seats I pay for
the shortfall out of my own pocket. I run the bus through my limited
company in order to offset the losses against my day job. My company
is called Rufty Tufty Ltd, which explains the name of the bus. As
for the operational name, the Tappins S2, that
comes about because Tappins already have a school bus which they call the
S1.
The bus started operating in September 2007. Our target number of
passengers to break even is in the high forties - just about a full
bus in fact. I encourage all parents who use and value the service
to help recruit and reach that target in order to ensure the long
term future of the bus and to keep ticket prices as low as possible.
When setting prices I do so in consultation with users of the
bus. There exists a hard core group of supportive bus parents with
whom I regularly meet to discuss prices, recruiting, and the
operation of the bus. I use these parents as a sounding board when
shaping my policy. You are very welcome to join us.
One thing I need to stress is that I am also a busy parent just like you.
I have a day job to do, and I am not a commercial bus operator. I
see myself more as a parent heading a parents co-operative, working
on this bus in my spare time in order to get my children to school.
Time to time issues arise, and during their resolution it helps if
parents remember I too am just like them - a busy parent getting
children to school, and not a profit making business.
Our bus is unique, and if you join us you will find the bus
community an unexpected bonus for you and your children. There is a
friendly atmosphere on the bus, with the children making good
friendships, and even organising a "secret Santa" day last
Christmas. The parents community is also strong, based on the
"Dunkirk spirit" from our early days and fostered ever since with
regular e-mails, meetings, and "bumping into" at school and village
events.
At the request of some parents, we are looking at setting up a
forum or optional mailing list for parents to communicate with other
bus parents. The objective being to give families a way to organise
lift shares for after school activities and the like.
This continues to be an enjoyable and rewarding project. Not only
do my children (and their parents!) have more independence, but I
have enjoyed the added bonus of meeting so many very nice and
interesting people.
